Savor
the Ensenada Fiesta del Tequila on October 23
By
Connie Ellig
Space is limited and advance tickets are a MUST. The Total Tequila
Package for the three activities ($43dlls. p/p) or tickets for individual
activities are available through Adalberto Pérez Meillón
at Galería Pérez Meillón in Centro Artesanal, Blvd.
Costero 1094 & Av. Castillo, Locale #40, tel. (01152-646)175-7848 (from
10AM-6PM Mon.-Sat., 10AM-4PM Sun.); e-mail
For The Total Tequila Package with bus transportation from San Diego ($80dlls.
p/p), contact the San Diego Museum of Man, tel. 619-239-2001; e-mail
For complete details, visit the
Photo by David Hopps
This year’s legendary desert classic, to be held November 17-20 in Mexico,
will start in Ensenada along the Pacific Ocean in the state of Baja California
and finish in La Paz along the Sea of Cortez in the state of Baja California
Sur.
“Monumental would be the word to describe this, absolutely unbelievable
would be an even better way,” said Sal Fish, CEO and President of Los Angeles-based
SCORE International, which annually sanctions and produces the five-race
SCORE Desert Series, capped each year with the Baja 1000, its flagship
event. “The motorsports world has never seen an event like this. We have
always said the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 is more than a race – it’s an adventure
– and NBC Sports and Aura360 have the resources and creativity to present
the grueling odyssey in a way that will capture the imagination of future
adventurers.”
Nearly 300 entries from over 30 U.S. States and seven countries, competing in 27 Pro and 5 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs will be part of this year’s event. It’s the oldest and most well known of all desert races, and it remains as the single most appealing accomplishment to a driver. Since 1967, the mother of all desert races has been run over the mysterious Baja California peninsula every year except 1974 when the international fuel crisis forced a cancellation.
“NBC is devoting top talent and producers to provide an entertaining look at a group of action-adventure events that, while popular around the world, have not been traditionally shown on American television,” said Jon Miller, senior vice president, programming, NBC Sports. “We’re excited about this new series.”
NBC’s Pat Parnell is host of the new program. Top SCORE racers will join Parnell as guest commentators and will be profiled during the telecast. A world-class action-sports commentator, Parnell hosted NBC’s Gravity Games for five years, and was a commentator on NBC’s coverage of the snowboarding competition at the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics.
The “Jeep World of Adventure Sports” on NBC will air August 7, October 16, and on December 4, 11 and 19. The SCORE show is scheduled for one of the three December programs. Times are subject to change, please check local listings.
Over the years, SCORE has been the subject of numerous television specials, including ABC TV’s Wide World of Sports in 1981 and last year’s ‘Drive Like Hell’, a 90-minute high-definition documentary on the 2002 SCORE Baja 1000 produced for HDNet TV by the Essex Television Group. Essex also produced a 90-minute documentary on the 2003 SCORE Baja 1000, called ‘When the Dust Settles’, for the Discovery Channel’s Discovery HD Theater. It aired first in spring of 2004.
Additionally, the 2003 Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 was filmed for a new 90-minute historical sports documentary film, ‘Dust to Glory’. Critically acclaimed director Dana Brown supervised a crew of over 80. It was shot with Brown’s father Bruce Brown as the creative consultant. Bruce Brown is responsible for such notable specialty films as ‘On Any Sunday’ and ‘Endless Summer’. This year, Dana Brown released the popular ‘Step Into Liquid’ surfing documentary. ‘Dust to Glory’ is scheduled for release internationally in late 2004 or Spring 2005.
For more information, contact SCORE at its Los Angeles headquarters
at tel. (818)225-8402 or visit SCORE’s
official website.
Be
sure to check out the most comprehensive, up-to-date
English
language Events Calendar for Ensenada County at
Dr.
Jorge Catalán, Mayor of Ensenada
Text
& photo by Tillie Foster
Dr.
Catalán first became interested in politics in 1986 when he was
invited to support the mayoral campaign of Ernesto Ruffo of the National
Action Party (PAN). From 1989-1992, Dr. Catalán served as Primer
Regidor (Councilman) for Ensenada and, from 1994-1997, as Diputado Federal
(Congressman) for Baja California. In the year 2000, he was approached
by PAN and asked to run as the party’s mayoral candidate. He was elected
in 2001 and became Ensenada’s third PAN mayor in history. Dr. Catalán’s
jurisdiction over the municipality of Ensenada, one of the largest in the
world, extends as far north as La Misión, as far south as the border
with the state of Baja California Sur, and stretches from the coast of
the Pacific to the Sea of Cortés.
Dr. Catalán’s first six months in office have been occasionally controversial and a bit rocky at times. As the new mayor, he has made some moves that have annoyed a few of the local citizens, especially those of the PRI opposition party. But as all politics go, matters have settled down and Dr. Catalán has been accepted as being in the driver’s seat. The next two and a half years should be very promising for Ensenada and at the same time, interesting to watch. Mayor Catalán has very ambitious goals for the city, such as implementing the bases for Ensenada to become the leading city in Baja California in all fields, with the primary focus on tourism and new industry. He envisions Ensenada as a modern, safe city without ecological problems. He would like to see the construction of a centrally located security center that would house both the police and fire departments, modeled after the successful C4 centers in Mexicali and Tijuana. He would also work for the regularization of property ownership, making the prospect of purchasing property more secure for future investors.
And this is just for starters. Mayor Catalán has a great many goals but so little time. Since he cannot succeed himself as mayor, he needs to cover a lot of ground during his three-year tenure. Mayor Catalán invites comments and constructive criticism from the general public including foreign residents and visitors. Visit the Spanish-language Ensenada municipal website Jorge Catalán.
ENSENADA
History &
Statistics
In 1542, this beautiful bay was discovered by Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo. In 1602, it was rediscovered by Sebastián Vizcaíno and christened "Ensenada de Todos los Santos" (Bay of All Saints). Ensenada is also known as the "Cenicienta del Pacífico" (Cinderella of the Pacific) and is a major port-of-call for cruise ships.
The wonderful progress made, in the late 1800's, in the settlements of Southern California, actually directed attention to the lower California, without much regards for boundary lines. The investigative report was so encouraging that a Company of capitalists was formed, comprised of leading citizens of both the US and Mexico. They proceeded to acquire title to 18 million acres of land in Lower California (Baja California)
The Association was called The International Company of Mexico, who in building railroads and steamship line along the coast and opening several ports of entry, directed attention to a region of land that has been isolated for ages. The Mexican Steamship line runs to Ensenada, leaving San Diego Monday Wed & Friday at 7 PM, returning the following day. Fares $5.00 one way , round trip $7.50.
The vast region of country included many lovely valleys and climate, equal to any portion of the Pacific slope.
Ensenada was the first town laid out and colonized and in 1887 had a 1,400 population, one half of them were Americans. The town is situated on the coast at the northern end of the crescent shaped bay of Todos Santos.
Today, as the third largest city in the state of Baja California, it now has a population of 369,573 inhabitants. Fishing, canning and winemaking are among its main industries.
Ensenada offers all of the services you would expect in a large town: supermarkets, hospitals, veterinarians, auto repair shops, Internet cafes and plenty of shopping plus museums, cultural points of interest and natural attractions. If you are headed further south into Baja, Ensenada is the last big stop for loading up on the essentials that start to get scarce as you enter Baja's wide open spaces. Although more and more Mexican and American goods are becoming available in small towns, you will not find a city of comparable size until reaching La Paz.
Deutsch
English
Espanol
Francais
Italiano
Japanese- Recreation, Even though Ensenada is a working town, there are many recreationa
-
opportunities in the area for Baja travelers. Just a few of the more popular include:
Campgrounds & R V Parks ,There are probably more camping and R.V. areas near Ensenada than any other area on the west coast of Baja. Close proximity to the U.S. border makes this a fun destination.
Fishing - Boating , Offshore fishing can be arranged at several locations in Ensenada Mexico. If you are staying in a hotel, your first inquiry might be the front desk. If they cannot recommend a skipper or a charter operation, try the shops on Ensenada's two main streets, or the pier at the end of Lazaro Cardenas.
Hotels - Lodging, Ensenada hotels offers every type of hotel and lodging Baja travelers will need. There are several ocean front Ensenada hotels but only 2 have true sandy beaches, Baja Seasons Resort and Estero Beach Resort. The larger hotels cater to English speaking Baja travelers, as do some of the smaller operations. Like most big towns, securing your vehicle during an overnight stay is a good idea.
Local Interest, In Punta Bandas Puerto Escondido Bay, is the first Tuna Farming operation of Mexico, ' Maricultura del Norte', there, Mr. Charat runs an unusual aquaculture business - an underwater feedlot for the creatures that he calls "the kings of the sea": Thunnus thynnus orientalis, or Pacific bluefin tuna. Click here for the story
Visiting the fish market is truly a unique experience! Baja has a very efficient cooperative fishing system that connects the entire peninsula. All of the various fish camps scattered along Baja's coast are connected by a distribution system of trucks, which pick up the daily catch and then truck the inventory to the nearest large fish market. The fish and seafood are put on display for wholesalers and tourists alike, and prices are very good. Ensenada's fish market is right at the entrance to town at the harbor. Follow the seagulls!
Malecon, The new mile long Malecon is home to several Marinas, Sport-fishing outfits and 3 Boat Haul-out facilities, 1 by Crane, 1 by wheeled cradle and the one at Baja Naval by Travel lift.
Museums & Galleries . No visit to Ensenada is complete without touring at least one of the Museums & Galleries in town or in the surrounding area.
BOATING, The Ensenada Marina is located right at the entrance to town. Service and fuel are available, and this is a great place to provision before heading further south. The next good harbor is over 400 miles south at Bahia Tortugas.
DIVING:
PUNTA BANDA, Head south of town
12 miles, right at Punta Banda signal, then drive to the end. Easy parking, easy
water access, fairly protected, dive shop sometimes open. Main bay Bahia Papalote
/ next bay Puerto Escondido / Punta Banda at tip.
ISLA TODOS SANTOS, 4 miles off of Punta Band Good visibility, some currents, boat
access only.
GOLFING,at
BAJAMAR and the BAJA COUNTRY CLUB
OFF-ROAD RACING,
TECATE BAJA500
& 1000, The title 'The most prestigious off road race in the world' is well
deserved.
SURFING:
SAN MIGUEL, 7 miles north of town, just before the toll gate. Good rights
on a rocky beach, some shoulder hopping lefts with a south swell. For more information
on SURFING NORTHERN BAJA,
check out this article by Mark Johnson.
TODOS SANTOS, 5 miles off shore, due west of town.These waves come in uninterrupted
from the ocean, and really pump. Boat access.
WATERSPORTS, Estero Beach is the perfect calm bay for all types of water sports, including water skiing, boardsailing, and personal watercraft.
Wineries,
No visit to Ensenada is complete without touring at least one of the wineries
in town or in the surrounding area. Although some wineries offer scheduled tours
and wine tastings, others open by appointment only. Be sure to plan accordingly.
From
the Plaza Viva (Tijuana, Pueblo
Mexico), If visiting Ensenada by Bus from the San Diego area, the best option
is to take the San Diego Trolley to San Ysidro, then walk across the border to
the small Plaza Viva bus station. ABC buses
depart for Ensenada every half hour from 6a.m. until 9:30p.m. (tel. (664) 683-5681).
ABC buses arrive in Ensenada at the Ensenada
Central Terminal (Central Camionera on Av. Riveroll & Calle 11.
ABC
buses depart from Ensenada to the Tijuana border ( la linea. ) every half hour
from 6a.m. until 8p.m. (tel. (646)178-6680 or (664)178-1323). One-way fare is
about $6.50dlls.
Also at Plaza Viva,
Aragon
buses depart for Ensenada every hour from 6a.m. until 10p.m. (tel. (664)683-5622).
They arrive in Ensenada at their own terminal on Av. Riveroll & Calle 8. Aragon
buses depart from Ensenada to the Tijuana border (. la linea. ) every hour from
5a.m. until 9:30p.m. (tel. (646)178-8521 or (646)174-0717). One-way fare is about
$6.50dlls.
From
the Tijuana Central Terminal, ( You can get there by taxi or Greyhound
Bus, see below) ABC (Autotransportes Baja
California) buses depart for Ensenada every half hour from 6a.m. until midnight
(tel. (664) 621-2982). One-way fare is about $8dlls.
Both
ABC and Aragon offer service to other points in Baja California, Baja California
Sur and the Mexican mainland. For times and prices for Mexican Bus lines operating
in Baja click here.
Greyhound Bus Lines (U.S. toll free: 800-231-2222) connect with major Mexican Bus lines at Tijuana's Central Bus Terminal (Central Camionera) in La Mesa (Tijuana) on the road to the airport. Greyhound Lines will take you to Tijuana's Central Bus Terminal (Central Camionera) from anywere in the US via San Ysidro, also depart from Tijuana for various U.S. destinations, but be sure to check prices since fares are significantly higher when departing from Tijuana rather than San Diego (see www.greyhound.com) (You will find Tijuana, Mx, as a Destination under California but not as a departure, in the Greyhound time schedule. The Bus just turns around a few minutes later to go back to San Ysidro.).
There are plans to have a commercial Airport in the Future. The only other public way to come to Ensenada is by Cruise Ship for a very short visit.
Getting Around inEnsenada
Taxi service is readily available at stands along Ensenada's main streets, or through hotels. Be sure to agree upon fares in advance.
CARLOS FIESTA'S HOT TIP: Don't miss a walking tour of the fish market, located near the entrance of town on the harbor. Fresh fish are delivered here daily from the fishing cooperatives throughout Baja, and it's a well organized show. After your visit, you may want to submit to a fresh fish or shrimp taco at one of the many small seafood stands surrounding the fish market. Delicious!
TILLIE´S PEARLS JUNE 2002
On your next visit to Ensenada, DON"T drive to La Bufadora, TAKE THE MICRO!! I DARE YOU !!! . Tillie Foster
reprint from the Cancun Net
|