Issue 75 april may 2016

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Free / Gratis ,

A Real Success Story!

By: Jon & Chris Courtright

April May 2016

Issue No. 75

We have all known him and seen him around town since he was small, Angel Martinez, the son of Jose Barchi, the local sign maker and artist.

But did you know that Angel is the one of 4 Los Barriles High School students that have won several Science Expo contests with their electric outboard motor?

Angel, a Senior at Los Barriles High School, and along with his team mates, Andres Lucero – from Boco del Alamo, Jesus Castro Garcia – from Los Barriles, and Osvaldo Lucero Robles – from El Cardonal, started their quest to make an electric powered outboard motor three years ago. The boys, all school mates in Los Barriles, wanted to come up with an environmentally friendly motor to replace the costly gas and oil leaking motors that hang off all the fishing boats in our area.

With the help and encouragement of their teacher, Juan Ortega Cordero, the boys would spend afternoons at one another’s casa trying to solve the problem. Through a school science program, they were given a motor kit, and they took that and turned it into a remote controlled motor and found a scaled down panga and did their test run. And it worked! They then moved to a full size outboard motor, and took out the gasoline motor and replaced it with a 12 volt battery that runs the same transmission and propeller and achieving 3 hp.

Their theory worked, and it was off to the first of several Science Expos with their design. They took 1st place at Expo Ciencias SUD California, which gave them a spot in the science expo Esiamlat Milset in Mazatlan this May 2016, and then the next big contest, Expo Ciencias in Tampico.

This 1st place win is sending them to the International Science Expo in Peru this November 2016!

The Peru Science Expo allows for three of the team members to attend, and as it turns out, one of the boys did not want to go – so no hard

April / May

feelings there!

The boys graduate in July, and Angel, Andres and Jesus will attend University in La Paz in August. Angel will be studying Computer Engineering – which makes since, his favorite subject in school is computer and web design.

The other boys will be majoring in science and engineering.

It is a great honor to our community, the school system and the tenacity of these four young men to work so hard for so long to design and create this electric motor. The invitation to be one of the contestants at the International Science Expo in Peru is a huge honor and a great break for their project and the future of these young men.

But, to get there, it costs money. That is money that they don’t have. The Expo in Mazatlan is mostly paid for by the school and private funding, but Peru, the boys are on their own. That is where all of us out there reading this

In Tampico, Juan, Angel, Andres & Jesus Continued on Page 4

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Advertising in East Capers Advertising in the East Capers gets the word out about your business AND your ad money supports the 3 week 'Cursos de Verano' summer school, for over 120 local children, provides art supplies for 18 East Cape public schools, baseball camps, just to name a few things the Asociacion de Artes does!

In addition to space in the printed version, your color ad appears in the online version at no additional cost. You can download the 2015/16 Advertising Kit by visiting our website at: www.eastcapearts.com.

Tax-deductable Contributions to the Asociación de Artes The Asociación de Artes del Mar de Cortez A.C., Los Barriles, B.C. Sur, Mexico is a legal non-profit Mexican corporation not affiliated with any other organization, association, club or business.

The Asociación is in full compliance with the terms of the NAFTA agreement of January 1, 1994. As such, contributions made to the Asociación de Artes are tax-deductable in the United States, Mexico and Canada. For more information visit: www.eastcapearts.com or the NAFTA Website at: http://www.ustr.gov/trade-agreements/freetrade-agreements/north-american-free-tradeagreement-nafta.

Volunteers Needed!

The Asociación de Artes needs volunteers to help support their programs that bring the arts to the local communities and the schools. To learn more about these programs, visit: www.eastcapearts.com.

If you would like to volunteer, send an email to: eastcapearts@gmail.com.

Call for Articles East Capers is looking for fiction and true stories about our region and items that affect our residents.

If you are interested in submitting articles, recipes, stories or your personal experiences in Baja, email your 1,000-words or less article to: eastcapersmagazine@gmail.com

Thank You!

This publication is possible with the help of the board members of the Asociación de Artes and members of the community.

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East Capers Periódico Publisher Asociación de Artes del Mar de Cortez A.C., Los Barriles, BCS, Mexico Editor

Christine Kenck-Courtright

Copy Editor Pako Ford

Circulation

Brian Cummings

Advertising

Kathy Obenshain

Contributors Theresa Comber Christine Courtright Kathleen Bulger Greg Neimann Dennis O’Brien Dennis Riley Robert Tjossem Urmas Kaldveer Jorge Bergen Club Rotary Los Barriles Steve Reed Camilla Ford Irene DeAndero Gisela Talamantes Saenz Marion Smothers Cathie Smith LoCiero JoAnn Hyslop

Printer

Imprenta Ciudad Los Niños, La Paz, BCS, Mexico

To learn about Ciudad Los Niños, visit their website at: http://ciudadninoslapaz.org/english/home.htm ———————————

The opinions expressed within the articles in East Capers are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Asociación de Artes del Mar de Cortez A.C.

Newsletter Email Address eastcapersmagazine@gmail.com April / May

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Asociacion de Artes

News!

By: Christine Courtright

As the season winds down for lots of us here in the East Cape, we can fondly look back and reflect on what we have done in the 2015-16 Baja season. Our final ‘act’ of this season is the Spring Sawyers Baseball Camp, this time held in Santiago, on April 2nd.

Our season started out doing the same thing we will end with, Sawyers Baseball Camp, which was held on November 20th in Buena Vista. We quickly moved on to the Colina de Sol art show on December 6th (a great show to start and finish your Xmas shopping) then leaving us a breather until Feb 12th, when we had our Artist Studio Tour, another popular art show –we do love to see the studios! It is at this point all roads quickly lead to the 23rd Annual Festival de Artes, the big art show held at Palmas de Cortez, which was March 20th. Wow! what a great show it was for all who attended. We had lots of great artists, lovely weather (meaning not too hot or not too windy), Bluz Explosion on the stage, a beer garden to cool you down, and plenty of seats to sit and catch up with ole’ friends. And of course, a great time to get some beautiful, fun and unique creations from the artists showing their wares.

paint, crayons, markers, scissors, glue, etc. and we would not be developing the next generation of budding artists!

We ask you to step up and join in the rewarding efforts of making a difference in our beautiful world, we call the East Cape. Become a volunteer and help the mission continue. It does not take a lot of time, you don’t have to be an artist, a muscle man or a sales person. You don’t have to live here full time, or part time, you could just be a few weeks-er. I can promise that you will meet some great folks, do and see some neat things and go away knowing, that you have made a difference.

I am sure that there are lots of you out there with some spare time on your hands. There are several organizations here that make such a difference to the quality of life for all of us ‘Gringos’, and AdA, as one of those organizations that is asking you to step up and share some of your talents and a little time with us so we can continue the mission.

For more membership information go to our website: www.eastcapearts.com and look up the membership page. Email us at : eastcapearts@gmail.com and we can give you more details!

The Festival de Artes show is the primary fund raiser that allows the Asociacion de Artes to fulfil their mission and have the funds to provide art supplies to 19 local schools, support the Easter Sports (Semana Santa), baseball camps, local summer school – Cursos de Verano, the Saturday Crafts for LB school children and this East Capers Periodico – just to name a few of our activities.

The festival is a big project, but with many hands, the job is light! Right now, the Asociacion de Artes (AdA) has lost many of the hard working hands to moving back North- due to health concerns and family obligations. We need the help from the East Cape community to allow us continue our mission a mission that is surely needed in this area. Without AdA’s art shows, many of our local and talented artists would not have a place to showcase their talents, and we would not have a chance to buy and enjoy them in our homes. Without AdA, area schools would be without art supplies; there would be no April / May

Funds from AdA events purchased the easels for the Los Barriles Kindergarden classes . There are 12 easels for the budding 4 and 5 year old artists!

An extra special treat for the school and made possible only by the volunteering labor of many.

Help us continue our mission of nurturing artists!

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A Success Story Continued from front page can come in. A gofundme.com site is in the works under Team Angel Martinez. We have also set up an account at Pay Dennis (Team Angel Martinez fund), where you can make donations to get our own brilliant team of young men to the Peru Science Expo and to continue to represent our community in amazing ways.

It is estimated that each of the three boys will need around $3000.00 usd each and we hope that everyone in the community can help them make the trip possible.

Then maybe in a few short years, we all can replace our gasoline motors with electric outboard motors all because of the support we gave their project!

And in a few short years, we will all sit around and say “I remember him when he was just a regular kid”. For now ,Angel and the other fine young men are extra ordinary, brilliant students, with great futures ahead of them. And they came from right here in Los Barriles area. We just need to help them along……

El Triunfo Art Festival April 3rd 10am—4pm

Don’t miss this family friendly art festival

in this beautiful and historic town in the hills.

Three of the team with their teacher Juan Ortega

Cordero and the proto type motor

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April / May

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The Wizard By: Jim Smith

Frederico Velasco somehow manages to elevate the title of “mechanic” to a high art. He compliments the job description with design, fabrication, assembly, experimentation, imagination and an attitude that nothing is impossible. While working at Rancho Buena Vista as chief mechanic, Freddy discovered that automatic transmission repair was a facet missing from his skills.

When he decided to go to an automatic transmission repair school he discovered that the only automatic schools were in the USA and that the classes were taught in English. No problema, Freddy learned English in a matter of months and off to school he went.

After leaving Rancho, Freddy opened a repair shop and parts store in downtown Los Barriles. One afternoon a highland rancher arrived at Freddy’s shop and announced, “Maestro, I come that you may revise my truck:. Freddy approached the ranchers old Ford cautiously. He untied the rope that secured the hood and lifted it up. He propped it open with a handy stick and gazed in amazement into “Dante’s Inferno”. The battery terminals were great globs of green goop; the carburetor was a malignant mass of mutable mud; the radiator did not just leak, it wept; a tarry substance that might have been motor oil at one time seeped from every conceivable seam. Battery caps, oil filter cap, radiator cap, air cleaner and dipstick were conspicuously absent. The fan belt functioned only by a Catholic miracle….something to do with the statuette of the Virgen Guadalupe affixed to the dashboard, I’m sure.

“Santisima verija de Senor” Freddy said in amazement.

He then stood at rigid attention while he sang the Mexican National Anthem in basso profundo, ceremoniously made the sign of the cross over the engine

April / May

compartment, and closed the hood neatly retying the rope.

“Sir”, said Velasco, “your truck has been revised.” “What do I owe you?” asked the rancher. “On the house” said Freddy. “God will pay you” said the rancher as he mounted the truck and drove away.

Damned if I don’t believe that truck ran better when the rancher left!

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Up, Up and Over Crossing the Sierra de La Laguna Mountains By: Theresa Comber

We were turned back just as we were preparing to crest the last rise.

A boulder the size of a house had rolled off its perch where it had sat for ions and was now obliterating our little, two track facsimile of a road.

The rock wasn’t aware of our great preparations or the small posse of ATV’s and jeeps and people that stood before it dust and mud covered, crestfallen and tired. In the past 8 hours we’d driven off-road fast and we’d traveled excruciatingly slow as we forged streams, bumped over rocks, choked on moon dust and even avoided a 6 foot rattlesnake that crossed our paths on our way to put our feet in the Pacific Ocean.

We were winding our way up, up and through the inimitable Sierra de La Laguna Mountains, the Baja’s most southerly range, boasting the peninsula’s highest peak at a looming, craggy 6,857 feet. Our goal to cross

beautiful mountains from the Sea of Cortez to the Pacific was now blocked. Clearly Hurricane John’s 2005 smashing blow that dislodged that mammoth boulder left us with a crushing defeat and further distilling our respect for the power of Mother Nature. We tried up and down, around about, and there was simply no way. And we knew it wasn’t just our own frustration with the impassable path. This boulder had been here for five months; the few resourceful Rancheros that lived in this incredibly remote area had cleverly been burning tires underneath the giant stone in an attempt to crack it into pieces manageable enough to move.

Eleven years later, as high and magnificent and constant a presence these looming Sierra de La Laguna Mountains are in our vista every day, our interests in this journey had not waned. It was to be my husband Shaun’s February birthday and I work hard each year at making ‘Baja’ memories for him. This would be a great way to head into the mountains again and over to the ocean.

As the youngest of 6 kids, it seems natural to move in a pack so I contacted my closest 8 girlfriends. YES, they were ALL in, now 17 of us with husbands and including the six dogs. The essential key to getting this journey rolling was contacting Jimmy at “Candoo Rentals”, whose ‘can do’ attitude makes any challenge a snap. Together we noodled the details, including adding an overnight in Todos Santos to stretch out the fun. Logistics included doing paperwork and paying the night before; he’d take us in his pick up the 25 miles south to the put in, rigs on the flatbed, leave early in the morning; he’d then drive over and meet us at days’ end in Los Cerritos.

Now on to hard goods - our quad is ‘unsafe at any speed’, so I rented a nice one that could hold another passenger. We also rented a four-seater for two couples together and two more two-seaters, plus we had three jeeps. Seven am on February 16 with the 4 rigs loaded on a flatbed and the ATV in the pickup, we headed out in a tandem train to the ‘Las Naranjas’ road located not far north of Santa Anita and the San Jose del Cabo airport. We made that our first pit stop, had smoothies and donuts, suited up, kissed Jimmy good bye and off we went like kids out of school for summer in a roar of dust and excitement.

One of the most beautiful views on the way up is about an hour in; the view east over the rolling plains below and onward to the sea is breathtaking. We were settled in and spaced out and loving the ride with the drops below and the high cliffs and steep mountains above and waving hello to the few passing rancheros making their way out. This range of mountains has been designated by UNESCO has a global biosphere reserve and we were in the midst of it and grateful for their foresight. We felt Continued on Page 7

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April / May

Read the color version online at www.eastcapearts.com Up, Up and Over Continued from Page 6

humbled and fortunate when we’d see some of the tiny homes, shacks, really, which folks were using to forge out their challenging, peaceful, mountain lifestyles.

Our next stop for cold water afforded a chance to peer into a deep ravine below us and across to the sloping hillside where cows were gently grazing. At least they were until the dogs on our side heard the cowbell on the other side and a f*#k*&g dog disaster ensued. All Baja rescue dogs well adept at chasing bells, off they ripped, straight down, across the little stream and then up like they were starving hyenas on the hunt. My screaming like a banshee made no difference. We all stood on our side, yelling and pleading with them because it made us feel better. Then we saw them try and take down a cow. Seriously. The pack mentality took over and so did the athletic husbands among us, led by my Eagle Scout Shaun who has a ‘1000 miler’ to his credit during one youthful Oregon summer. And good damn thing they went. Aghast with horror, that poor cow did a somersault in her attempt to run and we were unable to watch. Flash forward – our fearless men scratched their way up from the ravine, with the soles of Steve Burgin’s shoes torn off and we were ready to tear off some of the dog’s ears! But everyone, dogs, people and cows alike, were ultimately none worse for the wear, all except my vocal cords.

April / May

Onward we continued through blue palms and running streams and small waterfalls and open bowls of high green grasses. Throughout the day the sky changed from clear to cloudy to drops of rain to clear again. Our lunch spot was divine and we broke out the cold beers and forgave the dogs and took pictures and reveled in our journey.

After 11 years the road is much improved and occasionally even maintained. The off-road motorcyclists who make this journey regularly know that it’s no longer the formidable, rough two track of days past. We didn’t mind, we’re 11 years older.

I love to drive fast so I was happy to have the four wheeler and loved my girlfriends jumping on and off to join me as I roared ahead. I was the first to spy the Pacific after a wide, winding self-propelled race to the top and there it was below, drop dead beautiful and the goal now in site. And nothing blocking our path. The cruise down to the flats is fast, and then it gets confusing. Go left? Go right? Straight? We figured not right and so went left and then straight and eventually came to the north/south highway. But where were Shaun and my girlfriend Terry and our now forgiven dogs? Yikes. (Oops, not such a good wife to go ripping off!) But good thing we sent a jeep Continued on page 8

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Christene Comstock “Enjoy the best of health”

Therapeutic Massage Gift Certificates available nowPerfect for Mothers Day!

journey and the achievement of the day. We all agreed that the coveted journey until now had stayed a bit daunting with logistics – but not now, we’d done it! After a well-deserved sleep Octavio of Turis Pancho brought his van to retrieve the off road riders for the paved road return. The Sierra de La Laguna journey now in the birthday history books.

Massage Swedish Thai Deep tissue Reiki Rain drop Facials Aroma therapy Acupressure Body Scrub

spadecortez@yahoo.com (044) 624-160-1203

Up, Up and Over Continued from Page 7

Check out these pictures in color on line!!!

back after him because he had to be towed. Nothing better than another cold beer break and a bunch of guys with a broken motor challenge, putting their heads under the hood and their hands on the motor and figuring out the filter was blocked and high fives all around when it cranked up!

We were south of Cerritos. We rode north tentatively along the side of the highway then checked a couple of arroyo accesses that lead to the beach before we found one passable for all the rigs. Beautiful sandy beach and Pacific Ocean here we come! Scott Lewis and Greg Sumners ripped their dirty shirts off and dove in the waves. The dogs followed and a wet, sandy, laughter filled celebration started.

Feeling accomplished we drove along the beach, checking our watches and knowing we’d perfectly timed our reconnoiter with Jimmy. We could see him below us, his big pick up and long flatbed ready for our dusty rigs. We squished into the jeeps and Jimmy’s extended cab and jumped onto the highway north to Todos Santos. There’s a new boutique hotel in Todos Santos near the entrance to town called ‘Hotel Casa Tota’ which happily accepts dogs and extends a discount to ‘local’ East Capers. We crowded the place and had birthday cocktails on the third story terrace that affords sweeping views over the art filled city of Hotel California fame. We enjoyed a terrific meal in the hotel’s restaurant and toasted to our great

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April / May

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April / May

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2016 CARNAVAL LOS BARRILES

Submitted from Club Rotary Los Barriles Carnival is for families, friends, fiestas, and fun. Celebrated as Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday by French, Carnival peaks the night before Ash Wednesday, 46 days before Easter, a last repast and fling before the austere season of Lent. This year most communities celebrated Carnival at the beginning of February, but not Los Barriles. Breaking with tradition, Saturday, February 20th, our Delegada, Francis Olachea, with Josefina Ruiz, welcomed families from La Paz and surrounding pueblos to create a combined Carnaval of a size never seen before in Los Barriles.

Traditionally the Tuesday before forty days of fasting, Carnival is often considered synonymous with excess and satiation and this held true as our combined Carnival Parade exceeded expectations. From ninos to perritas, the parade featured everything cute in costume. Kids were the fare, but the parade clearly brought out the child in each of us. Floats, carts, quads, trucks, cars, dancers, drill teams, and all manner of other pedestrian participants choked the street strutting their stuff for rows of spectators and a special judging stand set up at Smokey’s. An enormous tractor-trailer truck from La Paz displayed our County Carnival Royalty with a giant medusa mermaid followed by a golden Samba dance troupe. The most common masks seen were smiling faces, and it seemed everyone brought theirs.

can be seen on our Los Barriles Rotary website: http:// losbarrilesrotaryclub.org/PhotoAlbums/2016-carnaval.

Rotario de Los Barriles teamed with the East Cape Guild, East Cape Recycling, and SNAP to organize and staff the parade, and to provide prizes, food, and beverages for the closing fiesta. Special thanks to our five volunteer judges who when faced with abject adorableness selected the best: Don and Dina McSpadden, Dede Bacon, Roberto Dinero, and Holly Abel.

Muchas gracias to all of you. Whether a volunteer, a participant, or a spectator, Carnaval reminded us once again that here, we are indeed among family and friends.

Francis Olachea crowned Ramon and Cecy as the Rey y Reina de Carnival for Los Barriles at Laguna Park. Prizes were awarded for the best dressed pets, different age groups of children, best dancers, and several other categories. Photographs of the Parade and the prize winners

Despite his skillful playing, Benny would never truly master the game until he could perfect the art of the poker tail.

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April / May

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How California Got its Name

From a Story by Marion Smothers When Charles I of Spain ordered his priests and conquistadores to set sail for the New World, he said to them, “You must give a name to the country you find as a whole and to the cities, towns and places.” When Hernan Cortez conquered Mexico in the 16th century, he called the country, “New Spain.”

Two years after the conquest of Mexico, Cortez sent ships off to explore the Gulf of California. The cruel, sadistic Captain Becerra commanded one of the ships.

It made a landing in a natural port on the shore of the lower part of the Baja peninsula, now known as La Paz. He claimed the place for Spain. It was here that Becerra and his sailors saw pearls of great size worn by the natives and used as toys by the children. Life aboard the ship had become unbearable with Becerra as Captain. The sailors under the leadership of Pilot Forton Jimenez rose up in mutiny, killing Becerra. Jimenez then sailed northward along the coast of the peninsula in search of a passage around what he believed was a newly discovered island.

By coincidence, there was a widely read book in Spain at the time titled, “The Deeds of Esplandian” which told of an island, rich in gold and pearls, that was ruled by a barbaric queen named, Califa. The theme for the book was taken from Greek legend about an island-dwelling tribe of women warriors called “Amazons.” The author named their island home, “California.”

The legend told of women so fierce in battle that they had removed a breast to better shoot their bows and lethaltipped arrows. Men were not permitted in their culture.

They were taken first as captives, then after siring a new generation, they were put to death (I guess this also went for boy babies as well). Anyway, when the word got back to Spain about the pearls of La Paz, Cortez decided that “California” was a prefect name for the “new island.”

as far north as what is now Canada. It was up to Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo to correct this mistake. He produced maps of his explorations I the mid-1500’s which were drawn many leagues past Cape Mendocino that confirmed that the Baja peninsula was part of the mainland. Lack of communication contributed to the confusion. Too bad the early Spanish explorers did not have a fax!

Note from this Female Editor: T o all m en out there: next time the Women in your life encourage you (you call it nag) to do something, it could be worse. We could be like the women of the California namesake town!!!?!

Spring has

Sprung!

Some maps still showed the Baja peninsula as an island well into the 17th century. One even depicted a passage to the Pacific through the Gulf of California, extending April / May

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Decline of Wild Dogs, it’s a Good Thing!

By: Christine Courtright

I am sure that I am not the only person that has noticed the difference in the wandering dogs on the streets and the beach here in the Los Barriles area. I don’t have to worry about walks on the beach or around town and encountering a group of homeless dogs. Not only did they bring fear to me, but they also brought great sadness as I saw the matted fur, evidence of flea infestations and the sticking out ribs. It was the knowledge that they must be starving that hurt the most. But now, it is different, thanks to the efforts of our animal loving groups there in the East Cape.

One of these groups, SNAP (Spay, Neuter and Prevention) was at it again this past Feb 23rd with their biannual spay and neuter clinic. SNAP along, with the Los Cabos Humane Society. Has the amazing ability to turn the cancha into a veterinary hospital. Nothing was missing. They had the admission center where name tags for the pets were given and then each pet went to their private ‘room’(commonly known as cages) to wait their turn with their private ‘nurse’ to care for their needs before and after the procedure. It looked like it was a one to one ratio which is really great! The operating rooms were lined up cleverly using ironing boards as operating tables. I was so impressed with the details that were taken… just like any mobile hospital. There were check off lists attached to each ‘room’, to ensure that each step was properly administrated. Notes were taken if the animal was a biter,

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barker or feral. Many of the animals were treated to a spa day and left cleaned up with a fresh doo and a new collar if need! Their pet owner goes home with complete post-surgery instructions and numbers to call if they see problems. The care and concern of the volunteers could not be any better at a veterinary hospital on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills!

To keep the progress that they have made with animal population control, we all can and should help out, since we all benefit. Volunteers are always welcome, but cash donations and supplies are needed too. We have compiled a list of needs that if you can put one or two things on your list to bring next Fall, that would really help the program continue and flourish.

Needs are:  Cash donations  Disposable bed pads – called piddle pads in pet stores or bed pad in drug stores  Pet carriers – large size or small. (good place to store stuff for traveling!)  Paper towels  Rubbing alcohol  Pet collars  Blue Tarps  Foam pads (to make recovery beds more comfortable)  Flea control medicines If you should have any questions, please contact SNAP at snaplosbarriles@gmail.com Please watch for the notification of the next clinic and come and check it out.

You WILL be impressed at what they are doing.

SNAP is hear tbroken to report the death of our dear friend Ila Buckley, a long time Los Barriles resident and a formidable volunteer for SNAP. Ila loved animals, especially dogs and cats, and was a big part of our spay and neuter clinics – early to arrive and late to leave. She was the life of the party and always turned everyday into her birthday!

Happy Birthday Ila! April / May

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April / May

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Upcoming East Cape Guild Activities By: Irene DeAndero

The season is beginning to wind down but the Guild has one last fundraising event before some of you snowbirds head back north. Our popular Bocce Ball Tournament will be held Thursday, April 14th at East Cape Casas & RV Resort. Tickets can be purchased at the Saturday Community Markets, Baja Properties (across from Tio's Restaurant) and Homes and Land of Baja (next to Campestre Triny). Tickets are $20 U.S. or 350 pesos for both playing and dinner, and $10 U.S. or 180 pesos for dinner only. Hot dogs during play time will also be offered.

Drinks are available throughout the day, and we are featuring a new signature drink, the Boccerita! Check the BPE for more details on this not-to-be missed event.

Our most important event, and the reason for our whole being, is the Scholarship Awards Ceremony, to be held Saturday, May 14th at La Concha. You are invited to join in and applaud the high school students who are receiving their well-deserved scholarship awards, some of whom may be your neighbor's, housekeeper's, or gardener's child. Details to follow in the BPE. As many of you know, education in Mexico is government paid only through 9th grade. In order to attend grades 10—12, many families need our scholarships to make it financially possible for their child to fulfill their potential.

May is also Scholarship Month, where we focus on our annual crowdfunding campaign. Check the BPE, our website (www.eastcapeguild.com) and our Facebook page (East Cape Guild A.C.) for details on how you can make a tax deductible donation to help further the education of our local youth. It is only through the community's donations and participation in Guild activities that we can support our mission of sending our local kids who would otherwise be unable to afford it, to high school.

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The Guild is always looking for new talent to join us in this effort so if you are interested in learning more about the Guild, please contact Irene DeAndero at dacebob@gmail.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Laugh a Day!......

My goal for 2016 was to lose just 10 pounds. Only 15 lbs to go.

A recent study has found that women who carry a little extra weight live longer than men who mention it.

I ate salad for dinner! Mostly croutons & tomatoes.

Really just one big, round crouton covered with tomato sauce. And cheese. FINE, it was a pizza. I ate a pizza.

I just did a week's worth of cardio after walking into a spider web.

I don't mean to brag but......I finished my 14-day diet in 3 hours and 20 minutes.

Kids today don't know how easy they have it. When I was young, I had to walk 9 feet through shag carpet to change the TV channel.

I love being over 50. I learn something new every day.......and forget 5 other things.

A thief broke into my house last night......He started searching for money so I woke up and searched with him‌.. we found none.

Sunday, March 13, Daylight Savings Time began. I forgot to set my clocks back but I did remember to set my bathroom scale back 10 pounds.

April / May

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Drugs Are a Problem in the East Cape and we all need to help stop it!

Comments By: Dennis O’Riley, Dr. Dennis O’Brien and Chris Courtright View from a Businessman and Community leader: It is a very sad situation we now have here due to the availability of this crystal meth and the relatively low price- even though the physical damage to the addict is huge. There have been minors in both Los Barriles and Buena Vista, picked up in school with drugs in their backpack – but it is not limited to just our communities students. Crystal Meth is also super addictive and does great permanent physical and mental damage to the user.

Carmelita has been instrumental in setting up a tax free corporation for the building and running of a treatment center that will focus mainly on the affected people of this area, with the center being located in La Paz to be closer to all the medical and mental services needed for such a project. Carmelita already has the land and some construction has begun, but funds are now becoming scarce. A Government grant has been applied for, but is not guaranteed and even so would cover just 80% of the construction costs. This center will be affordable to most families and those unfortunate addicts not being able to afford it will have special dispensation made available.

The center has been working now for six years and has a very low rate of return customers. It was started by six ex-addicts trying to help their friends and with the help of many, has become something to be proud of. They now have just over 80 guests and are using two rented five bedroom houses in La Paz, so it is urgent we get them the help they need to get the ball rolling. It benefits all of us in the end.

Dennis C. Riley

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View from a Medical Professional: A big THANK YOU to all those responsible for creating, building, and maintaining the drug rehab facility in La Paz. For any of us who have or have had friends or family members with addictions, we understand the importance of treatment and access to treatment. While most would agree that treatment is important, it is also imperative that we give equal or greater effort to PREVENTION. As a community, how do we prevent the drug problem from hijacking individuals, families, the East Cape, and our planet? The following are some suggestions; 1.) Make it MANDATORY that all grades of school listen to a recovering addict speak to class rooms once per month, complete with graphic photos of crystal meth use on a human body so that kids can see firsthand the degradation to human health, families, and communities.

2). For Gringos and Mexicans alike, talk to guests BEFORE they come to visit, and tell them if there is any attempt to bring or purchase drugs here while visiting, they will be turned over to the authorities and asked to leave and never come back. This is a challenging conversation to have with family and friends, BUT VERY NECESSARY. (BTW, if you think your kid or grand kid is immune to this drug problem, then it is time to WAKE UP!) Being in denial is being part of the problem. If you don't ask the hard questions, you will never get answers to solve the drug problem.

3). Creating good peer groups for kids keeps them away from drugs. Kids of all cultures are often prone to peer pressure, and creating activities and places that are drug free is a good place to start.

4). Get to know your kid's friends and their families. Make it your business.

Continued on page 16

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Drug Problems In East Cape Continued from Page 15

In my observation, most gringos on the East Cape do not speak Spanish and consequently do not know about the murders, extortions, drug deals, addiction, etc, that go on here. My suggestion to all is to get involved with your community and take stock in it.

As Cabo moves north and LaPaz moves south, we are seeing the affects here in our own community. Don't make the mistake of thinking that someone else will make this problem go away. The drug problem here IS OUR PROBLEM and it will take US to solve it !

Dr. Dennis O’Brien View from a Volunteer and Part-time Resident: I have become so used to my East Cape paradise and I just can’t imagine there could possibly be any of the big city problems here. Well, we all have to pull our heads out of the sand, and face the reality of our modern Baja world. The East Cape has become just like a big city: we have two gas stations, several grocery stores, lots of restaurants and now a real drug problem. Why should we worry? We don’t use drugs, well face the facts.

Drugs cost money, and the easiest way to get money for a drug addict is to steal it. Our lovely homes with all the things we need to be comfortable are easy marks for the addicts. Look at the statistics’, 79% of all robberies are to support a drug habit (US Dept. of Justice). It is not like we can have monitored alarm systems or a police force that could get there as the robbery is in progress. We have to take this into our hands and help. When asked to donate to the Rehab clinic, we need to do so. When asked to help with programs to give youth something to do after school, help. When family and friends come down, make sure they understand we are a ‘no drug’

Getting back to reality again, this problem will directly affect you. If our paradise becomes a drug infested community, and you think you can just sell your home and move to another community, well think again. There will be lots of homes on the market and your investment is has just lost value and become one of the many homes for sale for a fraction of their value.

I was taught that you leave a place better than when you found it. Are we doing that? All I know is I want to protect my investment and this community and I will do what I can!....starting supporting the rehab clinic!

Chris Courtright DONATIONS CAN BE MADE AT THE PAY DENNIS OFFICE IN LOS BARRILES

Layers

By: Jorge Bergin

Like doing time, marching in place implacable rock dirt jars, insults feet, legs, back and spirit this layer, where the landings talk and toil grows joyless just before each dive I could mount a spotty cow ride it while it browses in some mind meadow but soon the gentle manatee will glide me through fields of eelgrass a moving curtain to the next layer in the softblue I can hang and hover drift and dart, become the spongy rocks on a whim swim, flit, fly scatter timid fish clouds in my own biome water winds push and pummel make me forget Mr. Death holds the stopwatch on every Cinderella tryst never enough of this other liquid lover like unfinished meals, a sip from a magnum landlocked time dulls passions with too much of every THING blue lover is forever new changing danger is love is danger

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Don’t Mess with the Commandante By: Jorge Bergin

Friday night in Las Tinajas, nothing on T.V., Barbara in Tahoe visiting her mother so I jumped on the quad, bumped over to The Laughing Gull on the beach. The resort was closed but the bar was open. I didn’t expect to find many people there because it’s been slow for weeks now in East Cape.

Just the bartender Saul and two couples were trying to make the most of a quiet night on the beach. As I sat down at the bar, the two couples got up, left some money on the table and walked out chatting and laughing. So it was just me and Saul. That’s Sa – ool for all you gringos.

I’ve known him a long time but not well. He was a fisherman around here for years and when the fishing went south he was lucky to be well-connected with the owners of the resort, snagged the bartender’s job. Saul can handle most of the simple cocktails but you’d be in trouble if you ordered a Mai Tai or a Seabreeze – can’t expect a fisherman to know everything.

He does know the lingo – over the years, working the charters and now bartending he speaks some English slang you would only expect to hear spoken by Mexicans who had lived in the states. We get along pretty well because most gringos who Saul meets are just weekend fishermen, not guys like me who fish for money. He knows I worked the shrimpers out of Galveston, charters all over the Florida coast, Cabo cruisers and Newport dayboats before I settled down here in semi-retirement.

This was one of those Miami nights. That’s what I call 70% humidity, 90 degrees, no breeze to blow away the Jejenes. Saul had the fan behind him, I had nothing but the overhead. Back at the house on nights like these when I don’t want to run the air, keep the electrical cost down I just wear my shorts and T shirt, get under the outdoor shower, sit out on the front patio facing the ocean and with cold beer and good music try to summon up a breeze

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The Gull is one of those round, thatched roof jobs poolside right on the beach. Gringos love the Zalate roots curling up around the tree-trunk columns that support the little open hut. Beer is still under three bucks, they don’t play the music too loud and the shade and soft lighting makes the place look tropical and inviting. Saul’s smiling face completes the invitation. I guess he’s about my age, mid to late fifties but it’s hard to tell. This night he sported a butterfly bandage on his left eyebrow; the kind you use instead of sutures. I pushed my empty beer glass his way as a signal to pour another and made the All-American mistake of opening a can of worms.

“Saul, what’s with the butterfly.”

At first he just looked puzzled, kind of looked around the bar.

“The bandage. It’s called a butterfly.”

“Oh, lo vendaje. I left my cell in the kitchen, Rosa picked it up before I could get in there. It was Carmelita in La Paz. They got into it, Rosa got mad, I got this.

I went over there to the clinic to have somebody sew me up, stop the bleeding but the Pinche medico got me for 200 pesos for this little piece of tape.”

I pulled my tank top over my shoulder, turned toward Saul and said “Here’s my old mark I got from one too many women at the same time. Marlinspike don’t make a big hole but it cuts deep. Was sore for weeks.

So I wouldn’t forget, I guess.”

He put down the glass he was washing, pulled up his T shirt. “This little pez vela, sailfish, stabbed me good here under the arm. I released her after I called her mother some names.”

I held up my left hand where I’m missing my pinky and the top joint of the next finger. “Line on a net winch on a cameronera out of Port La Vaca, Texas.”

Saul turned his back to me, pulled up his shirt again, Continued on page 18

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Don’t Mess Continued from page 17 “Cockfights in Santiago. Drugged up gallero loser stabbed me and the juez with the long spurs. Seven or eight years ago. I think he’s still in the cereso. Not a deep cut but lots of stitches on that one.”

I got off the stool, stepped back a bit turned and pulled down the back of my shorts a about 4 or 5 inches. “Guy from Oregon gaffed me good by accident bringing in a big blue at the Gordo Banks…”

another place to play before you get some more scars to play with.”

Saul heard it and picked up the cell phone next to the beer cooler.

“Saul here likes things tranquil when he works. He’s calling the cops. There’s been some armed robberies around here lately. Two gabachos with guns held up a Pemex at El Cien, a Tienda Popular in Miraflores.”

Just then two young men walked in at the exact wrong moment, started laughing at my antics. One of them said “Who you flashin’ pops?”

Saul stopped talking on the phone, motioned me over handed me the cell. “It’s the Commandante. He wants to talk to you.” I said to burly and lanky and put the cell on the table.

As they sat down I walked to their table. “We were playing scars. You guys don’t look like you could play. Not your fault. You’re both young and probably work in little cubicles where scars would be hard to come by.”

The burly one just sneered some more as he picked up the phone, held it to his ear. “This another joke old man? Hello.”

They weren’t longhairs, one was tall and blond and thin, the other even taller sported a big belly and beefy arms, hands and all that goes with that bulk.

Burly boy sneered at me. “Old man, you better go find

Pretty soon his smile faded, he threw the phone down and moved off toward the door with his pal right behind. “Screw you. Both of you.”

I picked the phone up. I knew who it was – Saul’s brother Aldo on the boat. “Hey, it’s Ray, what did you say to that guy?” I asked him while I walked to the bar and sat back down.

“I told him he was under arrest. I told him to put his hands behind his head and lie down on the floor.”

I repeated it to Saul, handed him the phone while we both started laughing. He said “Aldo, maybe you should see about a job with the policia. You ain’t making any money on that boat now and you owe me mucho. Why don’t you jump in the dingy and come to the bar to play scars with us.”

“Scars, what the hell is scars?”

“V en, the bar is buying. We will teach you.”

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The Intimate and True

Adventures of “El Ballenero” By: Urmas Kaldveer, PhD

Episode 11 Me and Moby Dick (and some friends) I have two more special encounters with whales that I would like to share with you. These both occurred during the 2012 season. I am just beginning my work for the 2016 season and hope to have some new “special” encounters to relate at a later time.

On April 11th of that year I took some friends with me as spotters on a run through my grid. Around mid morning we spotted a number of good sized blows further out at Sea. It was difficult to tell just what we had because there were so many blows, bodies were too big to be dolphins, blow not right for humpbacks or blues.

When we got closer we discovered that they were Sperm Whales - rare in The Sea of Cortez but not unique. The only other time I had seen Sperm Whales was in 2007, and though captivated, I was not ready to swim with a full on “Moby Dick” at that time! I had just begun to swim with the whales I was tracking that year but not quite ready to get in the water with a toothed whale. Later I vowed I would, well...later had arrived! This time however instead of four there were twenty to twenty five. I realized that this was a chance of a lifetime, so I had Vicente take us to the edge of the herd and I bailed out of the panga and began swimming with them. It was incredible; I was part of a herd of Sperm Whales. They were swimming in all directions around me and seemed to be totally at ease with my presence...as I was with theirs; I could not have felt safer. Whenever I came up for a look

around there was a whale or two, or three within 20 feet of me. I feel that this was a gift from “The Whale People”, a wonderful new level of interaction and communion.

In mid July of that year I had a very unexpected and incredible day in The WZ (the whale zone). I went out early and was kayaking out to the reef when I caught some movement further out. A late season lone humpback!!! It was moving south and about a half mile out from me. The sea was absolutely flat, no boats, just me and the whale, I mean we were ALONE. I felt a strong and immediate connection to this whale. I paddled like hell and on its next blow series I was within 200'. I changed my angle just a bit and continued paddling. On the next blow series, the whale surfaced 50' to my left. He fluked* up after only 2 blows and I continued in the direction he was going at moderate paddle. Then he came up again about 40' behind me and coming directly for me. Too late to dive in but within a moment I could see him PERFECTLY under the water just to my right at about 10' depth and 15' away...BEAUTIFUL BEYOND description, the entire body so close, so clear, so intelligent and alive. I kayaked above him, just to his left until he came up for his next blow and he was right next to me! I could have touched him with my paddle. He fluked up and I again kayaked in the direction I thought was right. After about 5 minutes another blow, again right behind me. I grabbed my mask, rolled in and waited. Then he came...RIGHT TO ME!! He rolled a little to his left side, took a good look at me, I waved and dove to him. He continued on his way and I swam behind him till he fluked once more. Too tired to follow further, but this was my longest, clearest, closest humpback encounter so far! HOOHAH!!!! I feel deeply that this was a gift from The Great Mystery and The Whale People; I would like to think I have earned it!

I purposely do not carry a camera when I kayak because I do not want the lens to get in the way of the experience. I have missed some extraordinary shots but I am absolutely certain it is the right decision.

This will be my 12th season tracking our local humpback population. The data I collect includes numbers, individuals, surface behavior, body health (boat strikes, entanglements?), location and direction of movement. My data is submitted to Dr. Jorge Urban at UABCS in La Paz where it is added to the data collected by other researchers in Baja CA Sur.

Anyone wishing to help in this effort is encouraged to donate (Tax deductible) to my efforts at MioSah, C/O Susan Janssen, 20 Highland Court, Ukiah, CA 95482 or to donate online at gofund.me/6j0prg *Fluked" as in "fluked up" means the whale has arched it's back, lifted it's tail and dove deeper. The flukes are the tail of a whale.

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Dying In Mexico: Part I By: Cathie Smith LoCicero, World Wide Travel Insurance

I lived in Cabo San Lucas from 1984 to 2008

and although I knew of people dying, I was never directly involved in the processes and legalities involved, and like many of us, I never gave any thought as to what would happen if I died in Mexico. Last September, my closest cousin lost his wife in a freak accident in Ensenada. They were living aboard their sailboat at a marina, and while he and a neighbor were working below on the refrigerator, she took the dog for a walk, fell into the marina, and drowned. The whole family was shocked and terrified that the local police would take him to jail while they investigated her death, but they trusted the neighbor’s statement and she was taken to the morgue. Then the saga began. The next day, he went to the ministerio publico’s office and the morgue with their marriage certificate, their passports, and her birth certificate but they wouldn’t release her body because the marriage and birth certificates were not apostilled! Calls were made to the American Consulate in Tijuana and he was told he had to go to the U.S. State Department office in Los Angeles to get the apostilles. There he was told they could apostille the marriage certificate but not her birth certificate because only the individual can request an apostille for a birth certificate. At this point he became so agitated that two security guards stepped up and he apologized and said, “My wife is laying on a slab in a morgue in Mexico and they won’t release her remains without these documents”. Still they wouldn’t do it so he went back to Ensenada and they showed compassion and released her body to be cremated.

After being closely involved in this family tragedy, I started researching what we all need to do for ourselves and our loved ones. As an insurance broker, I represent travel insurance and an emergency air evacuation membership program, Travel MedEvac, that includes return of physical remains and all it entails to the US or Canada.

Even if you have the program, there are many aspects that only a relative or legal representative can facilitate.

I decided to document my findings and share them.

I have found a lot of different takes on what needs to be done, but one thing is for sure, whether we are tourists, April / May

snowbirds, or expats, we all need a PLAN. This may take several articles to share all my findings, and I invite all of you to please email me your own experiences and findings as well, to aid in my investigations.

First of all, do you have a will? Have you expressed your final wishes to your close family members, friends and neighbors? This is something that has to be done in advance, and is very necessary.

PLAN AHEAD! Provide your family members, neighbors, and legal representative: 1. A key to your home and information regarding the location of your passport(s) and will(s). Include a copy of your passport.

2. a sum of money or access to Mexican pesos sufficient to cover basic expenses when you die. Suggested minimum: $20,000 pesos.

3. The location and pin number(s) of your ATM card(s), My cousin had to borrow money to cremate his wife because he didn’t have the pin number to their Mexican bank account.

4. A list of names, telephone numbers/and or e-mail addresses of family members and friends you wish to be notified; Continued on page 22

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Dying in Mexico continued from page 21

5. The telephone numbers of your consulate or embassy and of your government representative in Baja (if your country of origin has a representative there); 6. A letter specifying who will care for your property and valuables until your next of kin can reach your Mexican home. (Only next of kin or legal representative can make final burial or cremation decisions.)

7. A signed, preferably notarized, letter clearly stating your wishes regarding burial and/or funeral and church ceremonies; 8. A copy of your will(s). If you are a full time resident of Mexico with property and/or bank accounts in Mexico, you should have a Mexican will as well as a will valid in your home country if you have assets in that country; 9. Some areas may require that all documents; i.e. birth certificates, marriage certificates, are “apostilled” and translated into Spanish before releasing your remains to your next of kin. An apostille is a certification provided under The Hague Convention of 1961 for authenticating documents for use in foreign countries. The sole function is to certify the authenticity of the signature of the document. Put simply, an apostille is a certificate that is attached to another document so that it will be accepted when used overseas. It is obtained through

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the Secretary of State in which the document was created.

NOTE: Canada does not subscribe to The Hague Convention so Canadians must directly contact the Mexican Embassy or Mexican Consulate closest to your place of residence in Canada or consult their websites for information and instructions regarding the legalization of Canadian documents to be used for any legal purpose in Mexico.

Register your personal information with your embassy in Mexico City: Americans: Go on line to http://mexico.usembassy.gov Choose U.S. Citizen Services 1. Select Security and Travel Information 2. Look for STEP (Smart Travelers Enrolment Program) and fill out the registration The registration can be updated as your information changes 1 Canadians : Go online to http://tr avel.gc.ca/ travelling 1. Choose Registration of Canadians Abroad (ROCA) 2. Select online registration The registration can be updated as your information changes Next issue I’ll address what needs to be done immediately after death and returning physical remains to home country. **Some information in this report comes from tomzap.com

NOW TAKE THE LIST AND AD THOSE ITEMS TO YOUR ‘BRING TO MEXICO’ LIST FOR NEXT FALL!

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World Heritage Sites Include Three on the Baja Peninsula

Baja California Sur, Sonora, Sinaloa and Nayarit.

Twenty-five percent of the site is the land and seventy -five percent is under water.

Sept/Oct 2005

Each year the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization 9UNESCO) considers sites all over the world, which will be designated as World Heritage Sites. This award comes with financial support for conservation, research and emergency assistance in the event of damage due to natural or man-made disasters. The World Heritage Sites list was first published in 1978. In the beginning, it mainly featured European sites. Since then additions have been made throughout the world.

The 2005 list included 812 locations in 137 U.N. member states. Six hundred and twenty-eight are considered to have cultural significance, 160 have natural importance and 24 share both natural and cultural significance. Mexico has 25 sites, more than any other country in The Americas. The Unites States has 19, Brazil 16, Canada 11 and Peru 10. Worldwide, only seven countries have more sites than Mexico. Fire are in Europe and two in Asia.

The Baja peninsula has three World Heritage sites. The Whale Sanctuary of El Vizcaino and the Rock Paintings of the Sierra de San Francisco were added to the list in 1993. Both are in the Baja California Sur. The recent addition of the Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California this year has given a huge boost to the preservation of the environment of this important natural resource. The UNESCO designation covers 244 islands and islets, as well as coastal areas in and around the Sea of Cortez from the Colorado delta to 159 miles southeast of the Land’s End. It affects the states of Baja California,

This gives a tremendous boost to our local efforts to protect the system of coral reefs in the Sea of Cortez, which includes Cabo Pulmo, the largest living coral reef in North America. This reef, which is about 20,000 years old, is one of the oldest and most important in the eastern Pacific.

Editors Note: For those of us who have not been there yet, I think it is time for some trips! No new sites in Mexico have been added since the original date of this article.

About Rattlesnakes By: Jimmy Smith June 2000

All natives of Baja California know this fact: He who kills a rattlesnake on Jueves Santo (Thursday preceding Good Friday) is pardoned one hundred Amos of purgatory. Dona Lupe assures that an Amo is an infinite amount, therefore, ten infinite amounts is something in the region of the national debt.

Rattlesnakes, like everyone else, are aware of this fact. Hence, they keep a very low profile on Jueves Santo and chances of locating these critters on that special day are very slim, indeed.

Rene Cortez relates that the rattlesnake must meet his demise at the hands of the candidate while he (the rattlesnake) is in good spirits. Since rattlesnakes seem to have a very short fuse, it would seem that total surprise would be a necessary element here.

Caminante (Traveler), Alex Flores’s dog in Punta Colorado, killed a rattlesnake on Jueves Santo several years ago, but since Caminante was not Catholic and most assuredly the rattlesnake was pissed off, all bets were off, in the local concept.

On the morning of April 2 1996, Tuesday, two days preceding Jueves Santo, Dona Lupe announced rather hysterically, that a rattlesnake had invaded her canary’s cage during the night and enjoyed a late supper. Investigation revealed the rattlesnake had sealed his doom as his girth was somewhat expanded by the canary within and he was unable to pass through the bars of the cage thus barring his escape. He was sleeping it off.

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The cage containing snake et. al was securely packaged and put away until Jueves Santo when justice was served and coincidentally a goodly amount of Amos was deposited in the bank of purgatory. Might as well cover all bases.

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MY FIDEICOMISO WILL EXPIRE SOON.......

What do we do?

By: Gisela Talamantes Saenz Under Mexican law, all properties acquired by foreigners in the restricted zone, 50 km from the ocean and 100 km from the borders, must be held in a Mexican bank trust which is known as “The Fideicomiso”. These bank trusts are established by a permit issued by Foreign Relations Agency (Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores).

Back in the seventies the first permits were issued for thirty (30) years, later in 1989 the Foreign Investment Law allowed the renewal of these permits and in 1995, the period for the foreign relations permit to establish a “fideicomiso” was extended to fifty (50) years and could be renewed multiple times. As long as the new trust involves the same parties and same characteristics, the request for renewal needs to be presented within a time period of 6 months prior to expiration date.

Therefore, for trusts established between 1970 and 1995, these are expiring between 2012 and 2025, the owners will have the option to either extend their trust for 20 more years with the same bank or apply for a new trust permit for 50 years with the same bank or different bank if they are forced to leave their original bank. During this proceeding, is a good time to confirm or change who the substitute beneficiaries will continue with the new trust permit.

What is the procedure for renewing a trust permit? It is a simple procedure, an application must be presented to the Foreign Relations Agency through the fiduciary bank to obtain a new fifty year permit or additional 20 years of the original permit. Once the new permit or extension is issued, shall be formalized by the notary and the bank, please be aware that if the bank changes and the property is in the municipality of La Paz, Baja California Sur, an additional 2% percent transfer tax will trigger at the appraisal value, last fall the municipality adopted the criteria that a change of bank equals change of owner. This situation cr eated an additional tax to be paid by the foreigners that have their fideicomisos with Banks such as HSBC (former Bital), Banamex and others that are not renewing or accepting new trust permits forcing the foreigners to move to another bank such as Scotia Bank, Banorte, Banco del Bajio and others that continue offering the trust service.

Other costs involved are the bank cancellation fees for extinguishing the old permit, a new permit or renewal fee, registration in the Foreign Investment Registry (RNIE), a signature fee and the first annual fee for the new trust, closing attorney, notary, and public registry fees. A new notarized deed will be issued and delivered to the parties.

It is important to remember that this is once every fifty years and the only other expense to maintain the legal status of the property is the payment of bank annual trustee fees which range from US 400.00 to US 550.00 per year and property taxes.

We can give you a free quote for renewal of your trust permit (Fideicomiso), contact us for an appointment.

Please bring a copy of your trust deed (Fideicomiso) and last property tax payment receipt.

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In Honor of Mothers day Picasso Moms

By: Camilla Ford (Summer 2005) When I first moved here, I was blind to the art being created in the Baja. I was looking for locally produced ornate potter, Day of the Dead “Nichos” and professional Ballet Folklorico. The little art I found originated on the Mainland. I mistakenly came to the conclusion that people here just weren’t creative. This limited perspective changed when my four-year old daughter, Heidi, entered the Jardin de los Nifios (Kinder).

On the first day of school, I was driving our beat up pick up truck, scrambling to wipe mango juice off Heidi’s hands, chin, and run a brush through her hair. When I got there, I saw that all the other boys and girls were dressed immaculately. The girls were clean, coiffed Picasso portraits. Their hairstyles were works of art with colorful ribbons and bows and straight parts with silky braids.

The boys were dapper with short haircuts and gel. How did this happen?

As school progressed, I saw costumes and art homework assignments for events, like Dia de los Muertos and Dia de Revolucion. Amazing! Paper skeletons, dressed like brides and mariachis, using jewelry, cloth buttons and colorful tissue paper. Obviously not done with a four year old’s fine motor skills. These were made by artistic moms whose canvasses are their kids.

Think about the preparation that goes into the numerous fiestas, birthdays, baby showers, weddings, baptisms and Quinceaneras (when girls turn 15). Envision the delicious food, the decorations and innovative games. At one baby

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shower, we had to sit on a balloon to pop it. We then had to do what the paper inside said like, “you are giving birth” or “pretend you are a baby taking his first steps.”

What is Broadway compared to that!

People here are incredibly creative, especially the moms.

They express it through their lives, namely their children.

They are not famous or rich. Their art is nothing that reaches the far corners of the world nor can it be preserved for the future. It all happens now.

For fiestas at the Kinder (Posadas, Candelaria, Dia de Los Reyes, Dia de San Valentin) moms make tamales, cakes, plan games, sing songs and fill pinatas. One mom even made lovely teardrop shaped violet and pink lollipops tied with delicate bows. When you drive by the Kinder look up and you may see moms painting Rosita Fresita or Strawberry Shortcake murals. I even did some of the leaves on the flowers!

In the States, moms raise money with bake sales and auctions. Here, our last money raiser was a Pelea de Gallos (a cockfight). Moms sold tamales, empanadas and bunitos to make additional money.

The Kinder may need computers, a copy machine, swings that aren’t broken and a roof over the play yard so kids can slide down metal slides without burning their legs. But, the stimulating beauty and creativity that is here, is worth far more than these material “necessities.”

The Jardin de los Ninos is a studio for the finest masters in the world….the artists of care, time, hope, love, humor, patience, acceptance and life.

Well, I’m off to school to pick up Heidi, my own “work of art.” I’ll be joined by other “Picasso Moms”… Matisse, Rivera, Kahlo, Van Gogh or rather Hilda, Liliana, Monica, Cannen and Gloria.

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Just in time for Hurricane Season

What is a Hurricane?

Nov/Dec 2003

Did you know that in 10 minutes a hurricane releases more energy than all of the world’s nuclear energy combined? Little else in nature has the destructive force of a fully-fledged hurricane! These massively powerful systems can produce sustained witnds of 150 mph (250 Kilometers p/h) with gusts up to 190 mph (300 kph)… hurricane Marty met these requirements! While tornadoes can produce even stronger winds, they rarely last for more than a few hours. A hurricane, on the other hand, can last for weeks and cover thousands of miles.

The clusters of storms that produce hurricanes occur only where sea temperatures are at least 80 degrees F (27 C) and usually originate in the tropics. To develop its distinctive roation, the system must be at least five degrees from the equator. To qualify as a hurricane, a storm must produce winds of over 74 mph (119 kph). Hurricanes in the northern hemisphere rotate conter clockwise.

Intense burst of rain and ocean surges also cause extensive flooding. Here in East Cape we are particularly vulnerable due to the major arrouo systems, which bring water surging down the east facing slopes of the La Laguna mountain range. One person awakened out of a peaceful sleep around 3 AM when Marty sent a 28-foot surge of

debris, which wipe out roads, clog culverts and eat away the sides of major arroyos. At least with hurricanes (as opposed to earthquakes) we are able to put some protection on ourselves before the event occurs! Here in the East Cape, people keep in touch by pulling up, www.NOAA.com, Wetter Vet or The Weather Channel on their TV and pass the word around.

We all know that a strong hurricane is nothing to scoff at and that the aftermath can cause major inconveniences!

But, honestly…would you trade living in the East Cape for (let’s say) the middle of Los Angeles next to the San Andres Fault? Think it over!

Editors Note: This article was written before Hurricane John (2006) and Odile (2014). With these hurricane memories still fresh in our minds, many of us now take extra steps when we leave for the summer!..... And I watch ebbmike.com much more than I used to! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In Memory By: Renee Lagloire

I'm so sorry to report that Buen Provecho Chef Denise Marie Elliott passed away after a br ief illness on Febr uary 22, 2016 in Baja California Sur, Mexico. Her 59 years represent a full life of hard work, courage, art, music, gardening, and an eternal desire for learning. Denise leaves a large international community of students, colleagues, and friends. The memory of this kind and gracious woman lives forever in our hearts. Donations in her honor can be made to Denise’s Fund for improved emergency services and medical equipment in San Bartolo (https://www.gofundme.com/4kt6tgph) Thank you for your support of our Buen Provecho Mexican cooking and culture classes, it was an honor to spend time with you in our cooking kitchen.

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Read the color version online at www.eastcapearts.com

Baja Frog Dinner Slippage By: Jorge Bergin

There is a very old dicho, a saying about rulers and their subjects that has been attributed to Mexico and Mexicans.

clinic and the two private doctors (usually vacant) were filled with people, cars and trucks, spilling into the streets.

What a surprise! It turns out that Mexicans, who abhor confrontation, have a damn good reason – stress can kill you if you have never had it!

“If you drop a live frog into a boiling pot of water, it might jump out, leaving you with no dinner. If you place the frog in a pan of cold water, slowly increase the heat, the frog will stay in the pan and eventually become your meal.”

Some of my Mexican and gringo friends stopped by to ask my advice but it’s too late for that. I did the math and found that the water company had been charging about 20 pesos for a cubic meter of water a month over as many years as anyone could remember. The new price is 57 pesos for the same CM3.

It is purely a political concept and for that reason it has been relegated (lo’ these many years) to a dark and dusty cubby in the low rent district of my mind.

Most Mexicans I talked to refused to pay – almost all the gringos paid. Now each customer will have to decide if they are the jumping frog or the burnt frog.

Today it screamed at me from the depths. My own little village just had some slippage in the tectonic plates of change; a tremor no one could have heard coming – our own perfect “frog and the pan” episode.

The dicho guides the cook, not the frog, because if you don’t pay, if you jump, the fall can kill you.



This little place is a desert (3.5 inches of rain and over 100 inches of evaporation per year)  No rivers  All our water comes from rain  Until now there has been no need to worry about running low or running out  There are 400 homes in the village  Most residential water bills have been between 50 and 100 pesos per month for as long as I have lived here (11 years) Most of the time I pay my monthly bill with coins – last month it was 57 pesos All the bills are computer generated and hand delivered to each house. This month’s bill was delivered today.

This month’s bill is double, triple, and quadruple the normal bill! At first homeowners just thought it was a mistake, a glitch on ONLY THEIR BILL but when they got to the water company office, saw the angry crowd, heard the shouts and curses they became angry, frightened and appalled.

My bill went from a normal 100 pesos to 285 pesos. I paid it because after almost 150 months at $5 dollars and (all things considered – see my list) I figured “don’t be an Ugly American”.

The Mexican homeowners/customers were irate.

They bullied and abused the local water boss with such rage and vitriol that he had to be taken to an emergency medical center, our local Casa de Salud for treatment of hyperventilation. The parking areas of the April / May

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Healthful Water for Healthful Lives By: Steve Reed

When reduced to the most common of denominators, the basic requirements for healthy, happy lives are reduced to just two; clean air and clean water. Everyone has to breathe and everyone has to hydrate, simply to stay alive.

When we breathe contaminated air or drink contaminated water, the quality of our lives suffers in every way possible. The adage is true: Without health, we have nothing.

Sin salud, no tenemos nada.

The need to improve the quality of water in BCS has been clear for too many years. We recently learned there are 2,300 pueblos with 100 or less residents in Baja California Sur. Most of the communities with the greatest need to improve their water are located south of La Paz, many in our Los Barriles service area. Working with East Cape Medical Clinic, we have been aware of the need, but what hasn’t been clear was how to address it.

275 systems to individual ranchos in remote areas on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Laguna range. With the help of local volunteers and guides, we meet with communities otherwise not accessible. We find that everyone understands the need for clean water, and when offered an opportunity, everyone is appreciative and pays rapt attention during training.

Perhaps most importantly for the near future, a Rotary International Global Grant to fund continuing our distribution is being championed by Maureen Ryan, a member of the Bahia De La Paz Rotary. We expect to receive grant information and post updates on our Rotary web site for anyone who has interest.

Another very clear solution to the need for healthful water is people who care. Anyone who wishes to participate in the distribution of clean water filtration is welcome. Our Rotary meets every Wednesday morning at 8am in Carmen’s Café (El Ricon), directly across the street from Smokey’s.

We were introduced to a solution a couple of years ago when a representative of a non-profit organization, Waves4Water, visited Los Barriles. Utilizing a simple but effective design consisting of a five-gallon bucket, some tubes and the filter mechanism, the gravity-feed filtration system is capable of removing most contaminations found on the Baja peninsula. At this time we are awaiting certification of a new filter that will remove even arsenic.

In June, 2015, we decided to request grants from other Rotary clubs in the States to purchase 500 filter systems.

Donations have been generous, and we’ve been able to purchase 360 filter systems. To date we’ve distributed

STOP THE MINING APPROVALS By: Veronica Velasco

Did you know that new open pit mines (Minas) are close to the approval in the Sierra de la Laguna mountains behind our towns and cities?!

This area has been protected from mining since the 1800’s because even now some local towns still can not drink their local water due to the high concentration of arsenic left from the last small mining operations— imagine what big mining operations will do!!

We would not need to have water kits if we did not have contaminated water. Please help us to stop any mining in Baja SUR by going to: Facebook—Frente Ciudadano en Defensa del Agua y La Vida en BCS Group of recipients with their water filter kits

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Read the color version online at www.eastcapearts.com

Wanted: A Family Wage Job‌ so I Can Stay Year Round By: Kathleen Bulger

My son-in-law loves coming to Los Barriles for vacation. Each year he imagines how he can "make it" and still take care of his family. He has considered many various jobs. My daughter is a Physician Assistant so he figured she could be the bread winner and he would be content to take whatever job he could get to help supplement their income. After all, he surmises, where else can he work outside and enjoy the weather?

What about quad rides? He thought that he could taxi folks who don't have quads around town. Gas is expensive. Nix to that one. Bus boy at local restaurant? Become a professional fisherman and sell his product? What about a professional cabana boy? Tips would be good. Or he could observe building techniques and report faulty workmanship to the contractor. But that would not help the workers who are already toiling in construction and they could lose their jobs. Matt loves the Eastcapers magazine, but there is already an editor so he would not want to ruin someone else's life. (this East Caper Editor says its ok) Raking the sand on the beach seems to be something Matt could settle into. He thinks that this would be a rewarding job and he could practice his Spanish speaking skills at the same time! How hard of a job could this be? The beaches here are currently not raked so surely this would be in demand. It would Be a perfect opportunity for Matt. He was already thinking about hiring a team of rakers and he would then become manager and CEO! I hated to burst his bubble, but I told him that our beaches are not that crowded (shhh--this is a secret we like to keep to ourselves and NOT publicize). Poor Matt. Everyone else, Matt says, has the good jobs-security man at Chapitos, Orange Juice man, Tamale Lady, just to mention a few.

I am so glad that Matt loves Los Barriles as much as I do. It means that I get to see my grandchildren when they visit. I have convinced him that he should not quit his job in the states but rather to concentrate on how to best prepare for his retirement so that he, too, can spend his golden years in Los Barriles.

And who knows? There just might be an opening in one of those positions later on as a security man, tamale maker or juice man!

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The Legend of Treasure Island Robert Louis Stevenson Myth From Baja Legends by Greg Niemann

One Baja legend that endures is that Robert Louis Stevenson was inspired by the Todos Santos Islands and wrote much of his famous book Treasure Island in Ensenada.

Unfortunately, it too is another Baja myth.

Indeed, there is no evidence that the famous Scottish author ever visited Baja California. He did live in northern California for a while before going to Samoa, where he died on Dec. 3, 1894. The sickly Stevenson lived for a time in Monterey, California and even got married in foggy San Francisco, but moved to the sunnier Napa Valley for his health.

The inspiration for Stevenson to write Treasure Island came from seeing a child’s map, drawn from imagination, in a Scottish cottage. His fertile mind was also admittedly inspired somewhat by Daniel Defoe and Washington Irving. The speculation as to the supposed model of the island itself runs from islands off Puerto Rico and Cuba to the Shetland Islands. It is even said that the wild coastline around Monterey definitely had an influence, but that’s a long way from Baja.

The Baja connection came about when Stevenson’s widow, Fanny Stevenson, moved to La Jolla, California in 1904. Finding it too cold for her there, she, her maid,

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and others joined mining engineer George Brown on Baja’s Cedros Island and lived there for three restful months. On her return trip she leased a small ranch house in El Sauzal, six miles north of Ensenada, where she and others lived for almost two years.

Over 25 years later an East Coast journalist was in Ensenada and came across old lease papers signed by Mrs. Robert Louis Stevenson and assorted papers written by members of Mrs. Stevenson’s party. Thinking she had a real scoop, the reporter thought she had unpublished works by the famous author and also incorrectly assumed that the islands poking up across the bay where Stevenson’s inspiration.

It seems like people everywhere want their islands to be the model for Treasure Island. Unfortunately, they weren’t Baja islands.

“ I don’t want to bring all my emotional baggage on vacation.

How much can I fit into a carry-on?”

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Read the color version online at www.eastcapearts.com

La Buena Vida Mercantil & Tea of Cortez

There is a new shop in town. And, oh, what a shop! Sharing a dream and a building on the main drag as you head into Los Barriles, La Buena V ida Mercantil and Tea of Cortez are open and bring a mix of something for everyone to the heart of the East Cape. With a policy of fairest trade possible, respect for all animals and the environment in mind, the 3 proprietors in this venture bring a refreshing fusion of business experience, ideas and passion for sharing the good life vibe!

On the left-side of the building, La Buena Vida will always be evolving, with new arrivals frequently. Currently, you will find a mix of Artisan handcrafts, jewelry, gifts, ladies dresses, sandals & clothing for guy and gals, that includes: screen print shirts by Vintage Co., Guy Harvey design clothing (and you know Guy Harvey if you fish), .925 sterling silver jewelry (that does not turn you colors) sourced from the Taxco, Mexico known as the Silver City, the highest quality silver in the world. Other products you will find there for enjoying the good life are products from Dr. Bronner’s like Organic Lavender Hand Sanitizer & body balm, Nu Naturals Stevia, Spry Gums and Mints, and essential oils. And have you wondered where Hook Up Shirt Shop went?...well, it is right here in La Buena Vida! No need to fret about finding high quality LB tee shirts with Hook Up right here!

On the other side is Tea of Cortez, a tea bar where you can go to get take out or enjoy Full Service High Tea (by reservation), loose leaf brewed to order (hot or cold), and serving daily Black Iced Tea and Hibiscus Twist (a lovely blend of hibiscus, lemon, and ginger) and yummy treats.

You will find at least 15 – 20 varieties of teas and herbal

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blends by Euro Te’, all high quality, 90% organic teas from all over the world. You can sit there and enjoy your tea, or bring the tea home, brewed or loose leaf.

Tea pots, mugs, and accessories are also available for purchase.

This shop is run by a neat group of women. Maria Teresa Martinez, who had Maria’s Silver Shop in Los Barriles for years, and who comes from Taxco, and therefore she knows good silver, Narda Castillo Marron, who has owned Hook Up T-shirt brings years of business experience to the for over 18 years and Michele Brean, the lone “Gringa” who group. The blend of life experience these women bring to the venture, makes this a dynamic trio.

The goal of La Buena Vida Merc and Tea of Cortez is to provide the highest quality products for healthy, happy living that are environmentally friendly AND with least amount of packaging possible. They strive to have clothing printed with environmentally friendly water color inks and to have all products sourced from fair trade labor practice. They recycle everything possible and have recycle bins outside available for drop off if you need a place for your recyclables. La Buena Vida wants to help all to live a chemical free lifestyle, and from this shopper’s opinion, allow us to stay on budget.

The shop is located next to Quadman (across from the Elementary School) on Calle Principal Valentin Ruiz #18, in Los Barriles. Hours are Tuesday – Saturday 10am to 7pm and Sunday 10-2, closed on Monday.

Contact by email is labuenavidamercantil@gmail.com or Facebook. Come and check it… Mother’s Day and Father’s Day is coming soon!

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Visitors Help Rebuild Albergues By: Club Rotary Los Barriles

Children who live too far away to commute regularly to school, stay weekdays in albergues (dormitories), while attending classes. Often there are little funds to maintain or improve the facilities, and the children and their caretakers are forced to scrape along.

painting and repairing the San Antonio and La Ribera albergues. In late March fifteen teenagers and their chaperones from the Rotary Interact Club of Madera, CA, arrive to spend their Spring Break painting albergues and delivering water filters to ranchos west of San Bartolo.

Club Rotario Los Barriles Cabo de Este hosted 30 Rotarians from Truckee Noon and Breakfast Clubs, Nevada City Rotary Club, Point West - Sacramento Rotary Club, and Fair Oaks Rotary Club. We all just spent two days

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Read the color version online at www.eastcapearts.com

THE BIGGEST FISH I EVER CAUGHT The Oar Fish Story By: Robert Tjossem

In December of 1995, the house was under construction.

Vance and I drove a truckload of supplies and everyone else flew down for Christmas. I was working around the house and Vance came in and said someone had discovered an Oar fish down the beach by the Shark Shack. I needed to get something done for the contractor so I didn’t go down. Vance reported back that I should really go take a look, but I declined. That evening Vance and I were batching and ran into our good friends down the street for dinner. Our friend, Les Brown, after a few cocktails, said that we should go get the beached fish as he was sure the University of La Paz would want it as they are quite rare. They are plankton eaters and live 5 to 7,500 feet deep. So after dinner, the Browns in Les’s pickup and Vance and I on our ATVs rendezvoused at the fish. By that time, the fish had been dead on the beach for a day. Little land crabs were all over it and it was slimy and very ugly. The head was almost detached, so Les grabbed the head, I grabbed the middle, and Vance got the tail.

We finally got it in the small bed of the pickup by curling it up. The next thing was what to do with it. Les wanted to put it in the Spa Hotel’s freezer. The hotel is located in our subdivision, and the problem was that Les was the president of the homeowners association and had been having a battle royal with the hotel on some sewer issues.

I, on the other hand, lived at the hotel when there, during our construction and was on friendly terms with the owners. So about 9:30 at night we took the fish to the

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service entrance of the restaurant at the hotel and I went in to find one of the owners. I found the owner’s son Esaul who was having dinner with his wife. I told him we had an Oar fish and was sure the University would want it, so could we put it in your walk-in freezer. He looked at me like I was crazy and said he had seen a lot of Oar fish and didn’t think it was a big deal. I said this one is 22 feet long. The dining room emptied as almost everyone went to observe the big fish. Esaul finally relented and we put the fish in the freezer which was only 4 ft by 6 ft, on top of boxes of food. Les called the University and they said they would get back to him. We never really heard anything until a year and a half later when we saw the fish hanging on the wall of the hotel’s dining room. The University did want to study the fish and agreed to stuff and mount it and return it to the hotel.

There is a picture of the Browns and Rayors and my son Vance under the picture and a narrative of the big catch.

Oar Fish proudly displayed!

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Solar Phenomenon – The Green Flash By: Slade Ogletree Baja Insider August 2010

The green flash is a solar phenomenon that only occurs under very specific conditions. Many people THINK they may have seen the green flash, but have they really? Before you think I’ve spent too much time with old comic books, drank homemade tequila, or chewed on the wrong cacti, let me assure you that none of these are responsible for “The Green Flash”.

The Green flash is a real illusion, optical illusion, that is. Before I dig myself too deep of a hole, let me explain. The Green Flash is an optical illusion that makes the sun appear to change to a greenish color at the very instant it disappears (or appears) over the horizon. Contrary to many misconceptions, it may occur at both sunrise and sunset, at virtually any latitude, and at any time of the year. Legends and myths about the flash have popped up through the ages, but the green flash didn’t gain public attention until 1882, when it appeared as an important topic in the Jules Verne novel Le Rayon Vert — “The Green Ray.” One of Verne’s characters also recalls a Scottish legend that claims that whoever has seen the green flash will never again err in matters of the

heart. Well, sorry Mr. Verne, but that’s bunk! This is the stuff of 19th-Century romantic French novels, not Scottish folklore.

Anyone who spends fifteen minutes on a search will find not only that no such legend exists; but that the Scots, along with the rest of the Celtic people, regard green as a color associated with evil spirits, death, and misfortune. Oops! According to some scientists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the green flash did not arise in Earth’s atmosphere at all, but only in the viewer’s eyes.

The green flash, they claimed, was the complementarycolor afterimage created by staring too long at the bright setting Sun. You can produce this effect yourself by staring at a red object; say a ripe tomato, in a brightly lit room. After about 15 seconds, switch your gaze to a white surface and you’ll see a ghostly bluish green “antitomato.” This theory went out of the window when the flash was successfully photographed. So, exactly what is it? It’s a phenomenon, meaning we can’t explain it fully, but here’s what we do know.

When light enters Earth’s atmosphere it is refracted, or bent, in the direction of the denser air — in other words, downward. The amazing result of such refraction makes the image of any celestial object we see appear slightly higher than the true position it would Continued on Page 35

Located next to East Cape Health Center Our management services include the following:

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Read the color version online at www.eastcapearts.com Green Flash Continued From Page 34

occupy if Earth had no air. The effect is greatest at the horizon, where light takes the longest pathway possible through the atmosphere. Now, let me introduce “Roy G. Biv”. These are the colors of the visible spectrum…Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. This is evident in a rainbow or when a glass prism is used to spread sunlight into its component colors. Sunlight is composed of a range of wavelengths (colors), each of which is refracted by a different amount. The shorter, (or bluer) the wavelength, the more it’s refracted by the atmosphere. So why isn’t it a blue flash?

Get Charlie’s Chocolates At his new store at Greens Corner or at Joes Deli Los Barriles, BCS 642-155-2427

To make a long story short, the blue light in the sun’s light has already been refracted by the upper atmosphere, making the sky appear blue. This leaves us the reds and the greens…and the sun is glowing bright red at sunset so just as the last of THAT light disappears behind the horizon, for an instant all we can see is the green, hence The Green Flash. You’re most likely to see the green flash on a calm and clear evening. As the sun gets closer to the horizon, it distorts, and soon its edge becomes “notched” on both sides. The notches seem to be riding up the sides of the sun. (It’s actually the sun that’s moving down while they stay still) When the notches get to the top of the sun, they meet and pinch off the edge of the disk so that it looks like a floating cloud—this is the part that suddenly turns green. So, now you know the truth about The Green Flash. In my travels in Baja, I have witnessed more than my fair share of spectacular sunsets, and only a handful of Green Flashes. There’s no guarantee that you’ll see it from any place on any day. It’s more of a “needle in the haystack” kind of search, but sitting on a beach watching the sunset is a really good place to start.

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