Labor Day - May Day in Mexico and the Origins

May 1 is Labor Day in Mexico and throughout much of the world. Originally celebrated in many cultures as a passage into summer May Day evolved into a worldwide celebration of the working man about 100 years ago. Since a May 1 Labor Day was commonly celebrated amonst the communist block countries the US chose to celebrate on a separate day.

The day will be marked with parades, marches and protests throughout much of the world, including Baja California. Those marches and parades are expected to be peaceful here in Mexico.

Banks, federal and state ofices and some business will be closed Tuesday, May 1, 2007 in observation of the holiday.

Children's Day in Mexico

April 30th is Children's Day in Mexico and is celebrated here in Baja California Sur as well. Tonight events will be held along the Malecon for children and their families to enjoy. Carnival rides, balloons and presentations will begin about 7PM and last until about 11PM tonight.

It is common for children to receive gifts of toys or school supplies from freinds and family memebers.

towing and leaving travel trailers

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islandmusicteach
towing and leaving travel trailers
Question
29-04-07
19:54 -0700

Hi, I recently bought a lot near Los Barriles and had a few questions for the experts... What does Mexican law say these days about installing travel trailers as dwellings? Any building permits or other nasty fees required? Can I just park it and start enjoying the view? How about trucking in a trailer from the US, has anyone had this done by a trucking company to their satisfaction? What did it cost you? Or does anyone know where to look in the Los Cabos area for used ones? Happy trails, IMT

Dogs on the Malecon

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Jeanne
Dogs on the Malecon
Other
28-04-07
23:10 -0700

We have a home being built in La Paz off the Malecon. I have little Chihuahua dogs. I was looking forward to being able to carry them in my little purse like carrier for walks on the Malecon so much. We really enjoyed watching other people walking their dogs there and enjoying them selves through out the day in that manner. We picked the area because of this being one of the options for us to be able to do. So this new ruling will not allow any dogs at all? In carriers or on leads, even if the proper clean up and all other responsibilities are taken care of by the owners?

Thomsonfly launches new flights to Los Cabos

Another European Discount travel companyh will introduce cheap package tours from London to Los Cabos. Fly stay packages will be priced as low as $1800 pp/USD for a two week stay at the Riu and RT airfare. Thomsonfly launches new flights to Los Cabos

Hiking info in San Jose Cabo

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SJCheryl
Hiking info in San Jose Cabo
Solution
26-04-07
09:10 -0700

I'm looking for general hiking info for the cabo area. There's not much detail on the web, waterfalls near Santiago is about all I can find. Anyone have any suggestions for day hikes? I have a condo in SJ and would like to explose areas by foot around this region. Thanks, Cheryl

New Regulations for La Paz Malecon

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Baja Sailor
New Regulations for La Paz Malecon
General Info
23-04-07
16:25 -0700

The La Paz city council passed new measures regarding the use of the La Paz Malecon. The newly expanded seafront walkway will no longer welcome dogs, bicycles over 20", rollerblades and kids under 18 after 11PM without an adult. The new regulations are suppose to tae effect May 1. However, judging by the number of persons I saw on the Malecon over the weekend violating one or more of these prosective rules, the enforcment may meet with some opposition. Fines are stiff, said to be $65-$95

$500,000 Medical Equipment Donation to Local Community in San Felipe, Baja, Mexico

The Lions Club, A medical equipment manufacture and a developer teamed up to bring much needed medical equipment to the growing area of San Felipe.
$500,000 Medical Equipment Donation to Local Community in San Felipe, Baja, Mexico

San Jose Del Cabo Marina

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Fiapapa
San Jose Del Cabo Marina
Question
22-04-07
15:37 -0700

I am heading down to the East Cape area in June. I will be towing my boat and looking to fish and dive in that area. I have been unsuccesful in finding out if the new Marina in San Jose Del Cabo is open and if we can launch our boat at that launch ramp. Does anyone know if it is open?

Possible slow down in travel to Baja California and Mexico due to US Passports requirements

Please be advised U.S. passports are required for air travel to Baja California and Mexico in general. There has been a lot of talk and I have interviewed a fair amount of companies in Baja that feel there has been a slow down in air travel to Mexico due to the United States new requirement to have a passport to return to the U.S.

In speaking with Jason Hollander of Cabo SpringBreak.com he felt that the new law definitely affected his Spring Break business this year as many students were not aware of the change. He works with many travel realted companies and airlines and they all have felt this affect. One major airline had told him that they had spent millions on researching the affect this new passport law may have on travel and were surprised their research did not prepare them for what has really happened.

When speaking to Frank Rowden of Cabo Sports he also felt that his business had been much slower than the same months in the previous year. My partner in conversation with James Curtiss of the Cortez Club which provides diving and fishing trips in La Paz the capital of Baja Sur as well felt that the impact was much greater than anyone had anticipated. I have even heard of hotels here in Baja Sur and other parts of Mexico that are willing to pay your passport fees in order to not lose your business.

In interviewing many other businesses, real estate agents, tourism services, hotels and Mexican immigration officers all seem to be confirming the same. However in Baja California (Norte) according to Kerry Sims of Baja Relocation there doesn't seem to be quite as great an affect, as many people are driving in and at this time you may still return driving over the border without your passport however I understand from some of our readers that it may lead to some additional delays.

While everyone realizes this is a temporary problem and is already seemingly becoming less of a problem there are much longer wait times in obtaining or renewing a U.S. passport these days. Here is a link to the page of the U.S State department showing the time required to obtain a passport today.

As year 2008 quickly approaches those traveling by land and sea will also be required to have a current passport to travel back from anywhere in the world. Here is a link to see what the actual requirements are for air, land and sea travel from the State department of the U.S.

So this is a reminder to any of you who are planning to travel into Mexico in the next few months to get your passports current.
Here is the link to the home page of the United States Secretary of State which is in charge of issuing passports to help you begin the process of obtaining your current U.S. passport.

I hope this helps many of you who have been writing us here at www.bajainsider.com and that you go ahead and begin the process today.

Buen Viaje!

Mexico Rejects U.S. Border-Canal Ruling | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

As to be expected Mexico is contesting the recent court ruling about the concrete lining of the American canal that will affect the farmers along the Border between San Diego and Baja California.

Mexico Rejects U.S. Border-Canal Ruling Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

Bush pushes tougher enforcement while seeking support for immigration proposals - International Herald Tribune

Here is the latest news on the fence between Mexico and the U.S. Hoepfully this will not affect our relationships with Mexico as the residents of Baja California in general do not seem to have a real isssue wiht these new developments so far. This might chenge but for now as I have asked many locals here in Bja they feel the only real problem is that in the U.S they do not enforec their immigration laws and therefore it is still very attractive for Mexicans to cross over for the additional income. In this article President Bush explains the needs for a new tyep of visa to allow migrant workers to become legal.

Bush pushes tougher enforcement while seeking support for immigration proposals - International Herald Tribune

Road Work north of San Pedro

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SV Seazure
Road Work north of San Pedro
General Info
09-04-07
14:21 -0700

On the drive between La Paz and Todos Santos is a literal speed bump in the road known as San Pedro. Located about 15 miles SW of La Paz, the improved 4 lane highway now reaches all the way to this sleep pueblo. Watch your speeds however, we have seen radar toting Federales on the roadway!

GPS for off road in Baja California

This question came into the Baja Insider and I asked Larry Buck to answer the question since he has the most experience of anyone I know for this information.

The question was:
I have been reading your interview and want to by a GPS with preloaded Baja Map.
I looked at Lowrance 480 and the 540 with Mapsource,
you recomand Garmin!
Is Garmin A better choice ?
Anyhow will your program also work with any GPS with Mapsource?

Thanks
Klaus Fritz
Future Baja 1000 Pre Runner

And the answer is:
Klaus

All manufacturers seem to only build their brand GPS to use their brand of maps. So choosing a GPS really depends on what maps you want to use. Currently the only GPS brands that have BAJA maps available are Garmin and Lowrance, and neither of these companies produce a Baja map themselves but there are a few aftermarket(3rd party) mas available. The maps that work with Garmin are the best, therefore I think the best GPS would be a Garmin unit. Although the Lowrance units you mention are well favored by the offroad racers I still favor the Garmin units because the file format used is way superior and easier to use. You will need to determine what features you want but be sure to get a unit that will run MapSource maps. We offer the best Baja maps for garmin at www.LBMaps.com. We also offer a topo map for the Lowrance units that is used by many offroad racers and works well on the umits you are considering.

Larry

US court okays canal linning against Mexico wishes

One more possible stress at the Mexico US border as many farmers may be wihtout water they have had in the past. This just released by the wire.

Appeals court OKs concrete lining for canal on US-Mexico border
Associated Press
Last updated: Sunday, April 08th, 2007 10:59:41 AM


SAN DIEGO -- A federal appeals court in San Diego has ruled for the US and against Mexico in a decision involving millions of gallons of precious water.

A three-judge panel of the Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals says the US government can line a major canal along the border with concrete to keep millions of gallons of water from seeping south. It cites a law signed by President Bush last year ordering the project to begin.

Backers say it could meet the water needs of more than 500,000 homes in fast-growing San Diego County. Opponents of the concrete lining say it will devastate Mexican farmers who rely on the canal's seepage to replenish their underground water supply.

The 82-mile-long canal, fed water by Colorado River water, was completed in 1942. It feeds crops along both sides of the border.

The court says Mexico already gets a guaranteed share of Colorado River water under terms of a 1944 treaty and is entitled to no more.

Welcome to the Baja Blog by Baja Insider

We have created this blog for those of you with a general interest in Baja California, Mexico. We will have posts and FAQ's from readers as well as links and tid bits about anything to do with the living and traveling in Baja and Mexico in general.

We receive many questions via email and phone that would benefit our readers and we realized by using this blog technology we can not only post them but even receive and answer more questions via this blog.

So people please feel free to submit a post. Please no commercial content and all posts will be reviewed for content before being published.

Thank you and Blog on, www.bajainsider.com