Originally Published the Week of May 3, 2022 in Western Outdoor Publications
Jill just sent me an article that had me scratching my head. It’s about new reforms in the Mexican educational system.
The Mexican federal government is implementing a big overhaul of the education curriculum. Prima facia, it will flip education on it’s head down here.
It’s not like Mexico’s education system is that stellar to begin with. Students have already been additionally handicapped by the last 2 years of closed classrooms and intermittent internet-based learning.
It’s only in the planning stages, but when started, the new programs will scrap current text books “because they promote neoliberal concepts.” That’s from the Ministry of Public Education. Instead of competing, the new educational model wants to stress that students “share.” Instead of competition, which essentially pits students against each other, the emphasis will be on “sharing and the common good.”
I’m not smart enough to know what “neoliberalism” is so I had to look it up. Here’s what I found: “Neoliberalism, or neo-liberalism, is a term used to describe the 20th-century resurgence of 19th-century ideas associated with free-market capitalism.”
Hmmmm…..
I don’t remember enough from my college Civics and Political Science Courses or I wasn’t listening that day. I probably was watching the girls in tube tops throwing Frisbees on the college commons or something.
But, that sounds (dare I say) “socialistic?” I’m sure someone will send me an e-mail correcting me.
According to the plan, students won’t have to sit for standardized tests any longer either. Those are too competitive as well as “racist, colonial,” “elitist” and promote “segregation.”
Those tests are used to evaluate students ability in math, science and reading.
The new curriculum has been described as “humanist” and “libertarian.” Lots of big words today for our vocabulary enrichment.
Mexican President Lopez Obrador backs the new program and says the new curriculum will make the students “good citizens.” He believes the current programs results in dehumanized and selfish individuals. He’s on a mission to eradicate all indicia of neoliberalism. One of his pet peeves apparently.
A good number of professional educators and academics in Mexico aren’t terrifically enamored with the new proposals. It’s causing some raised eye-brows and head scratching for sure.
As one educator was quoted, he surmised that the President was treating everything that came before as “neoliberalism.” There’s that word again.
Just a snippet of news from Mexico.
Looks like everyone will be getting “participation” and “self esteem” medals. Perfect preparation for the future.
That’s my story!
Jonathan
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Jonathan has been writing the Baja Column for Western Outdoor News since 2004. He lives in La Paz with his best fishing buddy and wife, Jilly, where they run their Tailhunter Sportfishing Fleet for almost 30 years as well as their Tailhunter Sea Level Restaurant on the La Paz waterfront Malecon. If you’re in town, stop and say hi!)
Originally Published the Week of April 15, 2022 in Western Outdoor Publications
Food trends come and go. The newest tastiest thing that seems to pervade every menu in some way, shape or form. The come. They go. Some stick around. Some don’t.
Fried mozzarella cheese sticks
Sushi and Hawaiian Poke
Deep-fried ice cream
Garlic truffle fries
Dim sum
Ramen
Spam
Fried Calamari
Everyone has them in places you wouldn’t normally expect it. French restaurants putting their own spin on raw fish. Asian eateries with fried cheese sticks in spicy ponzu sauce and even Spam dishes. Mexican cantinas with nacho fries.
Many of these things aren’t “new” per se. They were just “discovered” by the culinary world and blew up everywhere.
For instance, I remember eating cold raw fish and marinated fish as a kid in Hawaii. With cold rice too!
It wasn’t “gourmet” back then. It was cold because we didn’t have propane for cooking. Couldn’t cook!
Just the way it was. We used lots of soy sauce to flavor everything!
Years ago, our restaurant in La Paz was the first and only place that served Hawaiian-style poke…fresh chunks of fish marinated and served cold with soy, ginger, sugar, sesame and minced onions.
Now, I’ve lost count of the restaurants that serve some variation of it in our city. Oh well. I guess imitation is the best form of flattery.
And, now, the hot new things seems to be “Mexican Street Corn.” I saw it everywhere the last 3 months travelling in the U.S. From Texas to Washington State and Wyoming to California. Menus in diners in roadside truck stops as well as menus in fine eateries in big cities.
I can’t say I blame ‘em. Not everyone might like fried cheese, or raw fish or garlic on anything. But, it’s a rare person that doesn’t like sweet hot corn.
In La Paz, where we live, it’s a go-to snack late at night. A big order can be a whole meal. And it’s cheap. If I were still a college kid, instead of all that ramen I ate, I could very well get by with a big cup hot of Mexican street corn.
Most of the guys in our local neighborhood ride “bike carts” to sell their “Elote.” (corn). The Elotero’s bike cart is usually a jimmied-together reverse tricycle with one big wheel in the back and two forward supporting a platform and often an awning.
These eloteros usually come out as it gets dark and set up on a street corner somewhere. Lines can form quickly.
For the more popular carts, it’s not unusual for lines to remain well into the night. Just like as kids we would hit Jack-in-the-Box or Denny’s after a night partying, a big cup of steaming sweet corn is perfect before heading home.
Step up and tell the elotero if you want a big cup or small cup.
He’ll grab a Styrofoam cup and ladle in some hot kernels from the big pot or basin on his bike. He fills it about ½ up.
Then, some thick white Mexican crema. Mexico’s version of sour cream.
Then a squirt of Valentina salsa similar to tangy Tobasco.
Then more corn on top of that.
Top it with more cream. Another squirt of Valentina.
Then a sprinkle of chili powder. Then a spoonful of salty cotija cheese. Very much like sprinkling parmesan on your pasta.
Layer after layer of yumminess.
He hands you a spoon and a napkin and off you go with your Mexican street corn goodness! The newer places will also have a squirt of lime juice as well before you head off.
Many times, you just stand on the street corner with everyone else or sit on the curb. Or lean on a light pole and start spooning up the tasty concoction.
A big cup is maybe 2 bucks at the most. Often cheaper. That spare change in your pocket is enough to buy a filling meal of this good stuff. It’s a deal. Back in my early days, when all I had WAS pocket change, a cup-o-corn carried me through as my dinner!
Next time you’re in Baja and wandering back to your hotel room and see the guy on the bike cart with a big vat and an “ELOTE DELICIOSO” sign lettered across it, step up for the original street treat.
That’s my story!
Jonathan
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Jonathan has been writing the Baja Column for Western Outdoor News since 2004. He lives in La Paz with his best fishing buddy and wife, Jilly, where they run their Tailhunter Sportfishing Fleet for almost 30 years as well as their Tailhunter Sea Level Restaurant on the La Paz waterfront Malecon. If you’re in town, stop and say hi!)
Originally Published the Week of April 14, 2022 in Western Outdoor Publications
A few columns ago, I mentioned that a great place to get a bit of “real Mexico” is to visit the local church. Get a bit of history. Culture. Community. Maybe even some healthy spiritualism thrown in.
But, I forgot maybe the best place to get a real slice of Mexican life.
Maybe it’s even more basic and more fundamental than going to church.
I mean, admittedly, not everyone goes to church. Plus, at church, we’re always seeing folks pretty much at their best. Dressed up. Respectful. Attentive.
For most of us, going to church is not an everyday activity.
But, there is one place that pretty much everyone goes to eventually. That includes, families, couples, kids…everyone!
Get away from the tourist zone and go visit a local grocery store.
I’m not talking about one of the numerous chain convenience stores on every corner that sell every manner of two things…beer and junk food.
I’m not talking about the new Walmart or Costco or Sam’s Club that seem to be popping up everywhere there’s a hefty gringo population or tourist destination.
I’m talking about a regular grocery store.
You’ll find one in pretty much any neighborhood.
It could be an eye opener.
Sure, you’ll find a lot of products similar to the U.S., with growing demand for many of the same brands. But, you’ll notice the prices are cheaper than the U.S.
For one, very often the quality isn’t quite the same as the U.S. even though the packaging might look the same. You do get what you pay for.
You’ll find lots of canned goods. Tons of salsas. Many you’ve never heard of but worth a try!
In produce, you’ll find some unusual thing like nopales (cactus paddles…the broad succulent leaves of the cactus plant). You’ll see all kinds of chiles if you like to make your own salsa and you’ll notice that veggies like tomatoes and cucumbers, etc. are vibrant colors.
That’s because they’re allowed to ripen in the warm Mexican sun not coated with wax to make them shiny. And they taste so much better too1
Definitely you’ll see a lot of junk food. It’s a paradise of munchie food!
If it’s sugar or salt or something fried that you’re looking for, there is no shortage of soda, candies (some very interesting and unusual types you might want to give a taste) plus bags of bags of a zillion types of chips or other fried things.
There are aisle and aisles of sugar and salt. It’s unfortunately why diabetes is so rampant in Mexico.
In the meat section, there are cuts you won’t recognize, other than to knowing it’s beef or pork. However, Mexico cuts many of their meats differently than in the U.S. Mexico has different names for their cuts.
Also, the cuts tend to be much much thinner (affordable) than in the U.S. Unless, it’s a market frequented by gringos, you’ll never find a thick steak or a fat porkchop. No ribeye, New York , T-bone or pork tenderloins!
You will find lots of different chorizo (pork sausages) and cold cuts in the deli section.
You will rarely have actual sliced ham for some reason. Like the kind you put in sandwiches . It will be “ham flavored” but made from turkey (“jamon de pavo.”) and that includes packaged hot dogs. You will however, find bacon, but in my experience, it’s incredibly salty unless you purchase an American brand.
The dairy section has lots of yoghurt, but tends to be highly sugared creamy syrup and you’ll have to look hard to find real butter. Mostly it will be some type of margarine.
You will, however, find loads of different and delicious Mexican cheeses. It’s one of the true treasures if you get a chance to sample all the different cheeses including manchengo, queso Corazon, queso fresco and dozens more.
Another great thing you ‘ll find in the larger grocery stores is a bakery. Fresh cakes, breads, pastries are laid out and customers pick up a big flat pan and tongs and go up and down the shelves picking our their selections. There will also be a section with fresh warm tortillas as well.
However, the magic for me, is in the hot deli section!
The larger markets have hot dishes behind glass where you can buy incredible food to take home. Carne asada…chicken mole…chicharrones in salsa verde…pork ribs…street corn slathered in lime and cotija cheese just to name a few of my favorites.
Bring some of that home along with a cold Mexican Coke , some fresh warm tortillas and you’re good to go!
Give it a try next time. They may not necessarily be the healthiest or what you’re used to, but it’s all pretty delicious and you’re only ducking in for a sample! It can’t be any worse than ordering a pizza near your hotel or walking over to Burger King
Instead of the fancy tourist restaurant step away next time. Ask your taxi driver where he does his grocery shopping and it’ll open up a whole new culinary world for you!
That’s my story!
Jonathan
Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004. Along with his wife and fishing buddy, Jilly, they own and run the Tailhunter International Fishing Fleet in La Paz, Baja, Mexico http://www.tailhunter.com.
They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront. If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is: jonathan@tailhunter.com
Or drop by the restaurant to say hi. It’s right on the La Paz waterfront!
Some High-Fives are gratuitous and don’t mean much. There are other High-Fives that mean everything!
HIGH FIVE and WELL DONE!
Originally Published the Week of April 4, 2022 in Western Outdoor Publications
Last week, my wife, Jill and I were in Denver.
We’ve been on the road 3 months doing the fishing and hunting expositions across the western U.S. promoting our fishing operation in La Paz as well as tourism in general to Baja.
Each week a different city. A different show.
In our booth four or five days for 8-12 hours-at-a-time. Meeting and greeting. Shaking hands and socializing.
We’ve been doing it every January to March for almost 30 years. It’s fun. But, it can also be wearing.
Long hours driving. Different hotel rooms. Too much fast food. Packing and unpacking all the booth and gear. Convention centers with thousands of people packed inside.
So, we’re at our last show in Denver. As often happens, rather than look for parking in a major downtown metro, it’s often easier to take Uber from our hotel to the respective convention center.
Dial up Uber. He’s on his way. Meet out front on the sidewalk.
It’s early. We’re half-asleep, but we gotta get to the expo. It’s show time.
Our uber driver today is Haani. He has a white Toyota Camry.
He pulls up. Good-looking pleasant young man. Swarthy. Cleanly dressed. He helps us with all our briefcases, backpacks and other things we need to drag to the show each day.
We climb in. Bonus points, the car is spotless and he’s got some light jazz playing. Nice music for the morning.
We make the usual conversation.
Jill asks, “Are you having a busy day?”
He says cheerfully, “I’ve been working all morning and usually work the whole day. But, today, I have to take a break in the middle of the day.”
“For lunch?” asks Jill.
“No. Not today! Not for lunch. Today I have a special service to attend!” replies Haani.
“A special service?”
He smiles and turns around towards us in the backseat and says proudly, “Today I will become a naturalized American citizen!”
A pause as Jill and I wrap our collective brains around that for a moment.
“Oh my God! That’s awesome!”
“Congratulations!”
“This is the best news of the day!”
Jill and I are both yammering out loud at the same time from the backseat as we lean over towards him.
We are spontaneously shaking his hand; playfully punching him in the shoulder and giving him high-fives from the backseat. I’m shaking him by his neck. It’s like he just shot the winning basket…scored the 4th quarter touchdown…touched all the bases in the World Series.
For indeed he has!
He is laughing and trying to keep the car on the road!
He is beaming and his proud smile fills the rearview mirror as he watches Jill and I bounce around his backseat pumping our fists in the air!
Haani is from Afghanistan. He has been working hard on getting his citizenship for six long years. He says it is the hardest and best thing he has ever done.
He and his wife work two jobs. Two young kids in school.
He tell us what a great country America is. He could not be prouder. Or more grateful.
Neither could we. He dropped us off and we all laughed and we wished him well with one last handshake and high-five. It made our day.
Welcome to America, Haani.
We’re gonna lift up a cold one to you and your spirit to luck and a better life!
That’s my story!
Jonathan
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Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004. Along with his wife and fishing buddy, Jilly, they own and run the Tailhunter International Fishing Fleet in La Paz, Baja, Mexico www.tailhunter.com.
They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront. If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is: jonathan@tailhunter.com
Or drop by the restaurant to say hi. It’s right on the La Paz waterfront!
Originally Published the Week of Mar. 26, 2022 in Western Outdoor Publications
Living in Baja, visitors often ask me some suggestions of where they can “see the real Mexico.” They’re not interested in finding out where to go zip-lining or the cheapest place to buy a hammock or sarape.
They want the genuine article. The real deal. Something not “touristy.”
I tell them to head to church. Preferably on a Sunday or a Saturday afternoon.
After a momentary quizzical look, I explain that they’ll see a part of Mexico…a part of the community…a lot of history and a lot of culture if they make a visit to the local church.
Every city or large town has a Catholic church.
Since the earliest days of the conquistadores and missionaries, you can pretty much find a Catholic Church somewhere in the area. To this day, Mexico remains largely a Catholic country and the church is still the center of life…even if not everyone goes to church all the time.
Nevertheless, the church is still central to so much that goes on in a Mexican community. Obviously, it’s a spiritual and religious center.
Architecturally, it’s usually in the center of town or in a town square, park or pavilion area.
Socially, it often remains the place where life’s milestones still take place. Start to finish…baptism…confirmations…quincineras (sweet 16 presentations)…weddings…more baptisms…and funerals.
So, I tell folks to head to the local church.
Outside, there are often street vendors in the larger cities. It can be a hub of activity.
Our own cathedral in La Paz is in the town square and adjacent to the town park. There are often musicians playing. Families picnicking. Impromptu karaoke and bingo games. Old men playing chess or checkers.
Stand outside.
If it’s an old church, take in the architecture. Admire the craftsmanship. Many of these churches weren’t made with modern cranes, bulldozers and electric tools.
Old-fashioned human labor with hand tools. Sweat equity for credits in heaven. Pride in details that were meant to last for decades or centuries.
Handmade brick and quarried stone transported maybe from many miles away with carts, wagons and mules. In some cases, the very wooden beams inside the structure as well as the window glass was transported from Spain, not to mention statues and religious artifacts and furniture.
The bells may have come from some faraway forge as well. Most likely yes.
If there’s an old cemetery nearby, well worth it to trace the history of the former priests, padres and parishioners. It was a hard life.
You’ll often see short life spans. Children and babies who died early. Many deaths close in date could indicate a communal epidemic like measles, smallpox, dysentery or a simple flu.
Step inside. Remove your hat. There might be a Mass or other event taking place. Even if not, remember it’s still a house of worship. Be respectful.
If nothing is happening, wander and gaze. Statues, the alter, the stained glass, the wooden pews, paintings and artwork may date back decades or centuries. They may have travelled thousands of miles to find their forever homes in this church.
The craftsmen are long gone, but their work remains. It’s better than any museum.
Imagine today, we go to Home Depot. Get our materials. Build a bookshelf for your home. Never in a million years would we expect it to last for decades. Not like these old artisans.
I’ve been in old Mexican churches where the walls and ceilings are still covered with the dark soot of a century or more of burning votive candles.
A close examination of the area around the alter shows inset graves of the old padres who once serviced their community. The tiles show their names.
It’s a testament to their dedication and commitment that many of them travelled from Spain or other places in Mexico to find their final resting place in the arid hard-scrabble frontier of Baja.
If there are services taking place, many times, there can be multiple events transpiring since often, there’s only one priest or padre. In some instances, the priest is a travel-priest doing services from town-to-town to tend to his parishioners.
But, if you’re visiting, that’s where you’ll see the culture.
I once came for Mass. It was followed by a baptism. Followed by a wedding. Followed by a first communion of 8 and 9 year-old-kids in their little white shirts and puffy dresses.
The whole gamut. Proud families. Happy couples. Nervous youngsters. Big days in life. Big days in the community. The circle of life. The cycle of life.
All in one place. Just follow the sound of the bells!
That’s my story!
Jonathan
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Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004. Along with his wife and fishing buddy, Jilly, they own and run the Tailhunter International Fishing Fleet in La Paz, Baja, Mexico www.tailhunter.com.
They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront. If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is: jonathan@tailhunter.com
Or drop by the restaurant to say hi. It’s right on the La Paz waterfront!
Originally Published the Week of Mar. 20, 2022 in Western Outdoor Publications
My wife, Jill, and I have been on the road now for the better part of three months. Every year, we drive all over the U.S. doing fishing and hunting expos drumming up business for our fishing operation in La Paz.
We set up our booth and join many hundreds of other international outfitters, fishing guides, hunting guides, gear retailers, RV and boat sellers and others in the modern day version of the fur trapper rendezvous.
It’s definitely a “gathering of tribes.” Over the course of 4 or 5 days, often tens of thousands of attendees fill the aisles. It can be quite an event.
As of today, we’ve been over a dozen states now. A few more still to come.
We’ve been through huge cities and the smallest of towns. Towering skyscraper skylines to one-horse crossroads. I believe we’ve already logged over 10,000 miles driving. (Not so fun watching gas prices blow up, but that’s another story!)
In previous columns, I’ve documented the distressing amount of crime, vagrancy, squalor and trash we encountered in so many cities. Especially along the west coast.
Friends and other outfitters were victimized by burglaries and outright thefts of their vehicles, trailers and rigs. One friend was carjacked at gun point by a guy running from a murder.
Our own rig was rendered undriveable by a break-in where the bad guys completely smashed not only our rear glass, but the whole liftgate.
We joke about the “Zombie Apocalypse,” but many a night none of us would leave our hotel/ motel rooms because of all the homeless folks wandering outside; sleeping in the bushes; panhandling; hustling; partying; defecating and more.
Some of our most beautiful and favorite cities broken, ruined and abandoned except for the tattered, the homeless, the lawless, the disenfranchised of the streets. It’s an urban landscape straight out’ve an “end of the world” sci-fi flick.
After several weeks in these areas, it was more than disheartening and depressing. I wasn’t alone in my assessment.
Other outfitters, local residents and law enforcement friends echoed the same sentiments in these areas.
There was a tacit resignation of spirit that THIS is what it’s come to. THIS is where WE are. THIS is how it will always be and only get worse.
And not a thing we can do about it.
The whole country to hell-in-a-handbag.
But wait…
Then our show schedule took us inland. Smaller shows AWAY from the big cities. We passed through and spent more time in smaller cities and neighborhoods.
Back to the countryside. Little pink houses. Denny’s diners. Swings and slides in town parks. Crossing guards at the elementary school. There’s a banner about a pancake breakfast at the church. The VFW Hall has a bunch of pick-up trucks parked outside.
Went into a grocery store in Central Oregon. A 9-year-old boy held the door open for me and said, “after you, sir!”
Shock and awe.
In little towns in Washington and Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas and Wyoming, we got “sir” and “ma’am” a lot. And not just from kids.
Adults you run into in the street in the normal course of a day or at our hotels addressed us similarly. Just the way things are. Courtesy and hospitality, that was rarely found in the big cities.
We had become so callous to common civility and comity that it seemed like people were going out of their way to be amiable. But, it’s just the way people are in different spots of the country. Or how they are brought up.
I was brought up addressing others like that as well. Just how I was taught. However, when I use “sir” or “ma’am” I often get a quizzical look as if I was speaking Greek. Some folks get offended as if I was calling them “old.”
In these small towns and open spaces, I got a nod and smiles and friendly responses instead.
At the shows themselves, it’s a different crowd for sure.
At the start of the show before they let the crowds in, they play the Star Spangled Banner over the loudspeaker in these expo centers. Everyone stops what they are doing and puts hand or hat over heart and faces the flag.
Many people sing out loud. You can help smiling. You stand up a little straighter. I catch myself singing as well.
When the crowds come in..
Again, I’m often addressed as “sir.” After chatting with someone at our booth, it’s not uncommon for someone to thank me for taking the time to answer their questions.
Are you kidding me?
I hear the word “please” a lot .
The adults/ parents are much more blue collar. Yes, there’s a lot of pick-up trucks and suburbans in the parking lot . A lot of baseball hats, blue jeans, camo vests and work, hiking or cowboy boots. Men and women alike.
Some look just like they just took off the gloves and came to the show from the ranch, farm or mechanic shop. Moms look like they just grabbed the kids from school and are trying to get through the show before they gotta race home to cook dinner.
In the meantime, a beer or Coke and a bag of popcorn will do, thank you very much.
But in talking to adults and kids alike, they sound like they can fix cars and boats. They can take out an elk at 500 yards AND carry it out on their backs. They can run tractors and they tell you they can only come visit us in Mexico AFTER the crops come in but BEFORE hunting season starts.
At one show on a Sunday, a family apologized to me for coming so late to the show. Because they were at CHURCH!
I felt like giving them all a high-five!
At one show, I was next to a sporting goods outfitter.
The men, women AND kids knew how to handle guns and fishing gear and were as at adept and knowledgeable about fishing and hunting, camping and boating and off-roading as any expert.
It was refreshing. It’s not hopeless. It’s not as depressing as it seems.
It’s not a Normal Rockwell painting, by any stretch. All places have their issues and problems. I realize my view was only a tiny miniscule slice.
But, all is not lost. Faith renewed.
Yes, Sir. Yes, Ma’am.
That’s my story!
Jonathan
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Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004. Along with his wife and fishing buddy, Jilly, they own and run the Tailhunter International Fishing Fleet in La Paz, Baja, Mexico www.tailhunter.com.
They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront. If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is: jonathan@tailhunter.com
Or drop by the restaurant to say hi. It’s right on the La Paz waterfront!
Originally Published the Week of March 7, 2022 in Western Outdoor Publications
Whether you’re planning to fly, drive or walk to Baja or any place in Mexico in April, come ahead. For the first time in 2 years, Mexico is basically open and really wants you to come visit. (aka “needs you to visit!”)
Since the pandemic hit in 2020, Mexico implemented a “traffic light” scale to measure the covid restrictions and protocols. Red being the worst. Green was the best.
In between those extremes were a series of various shades of oranges and yellows. Over the pandemic, the scale has bounced back and forth between those variations.
Just like in the U.S. it’s been “masks on.”
Now they are “off.”
Now they are back on.
Same with all the attenuated protocols like social distancing, closures and activities. Back-and-forth. Up-and-down. Enough to make your head spin.
Unless you’ve quarantined in a windowless room the last two years, you know the drill.
However, like many locations in the world, covid and it’s seemingly unnumerable waves, permeations and mutations is declining. Infections, hospitalizations and fatalities thankfully are also down.
According to officials, something like 80-85% of the eligible population has been vaccinated.
So, it’s a virtual green light to go visit Mexico this Easter or spring break. It’s the first time in two years.
Of course, like everywhere else, there’s some trepidation about the anticipated onslaught. With so many people suddenly running around with impunity health officials and politicians have some underwear bunching up.
But, for better or worse, things are open!
Some vestiges of covid might linger. Some private businesses might still require masks. It’s their prerogative. But, otherwise, party like it’s 2019!
But, Mexico has been trying to get ready.
Statistics have shown that Mexico has been the #1 travel destination in the world. Not just Americans, but anyone else who can jump on a plane has looked to Mexico.
It was easy to get in.
Easy to get out (mostly).
Chances of quarantine were minimal.
It’s a great value for a vacation.
The only thing you need to do is get a negative covid test before returning to the U.S. Fingers are crossed that even this may drop to the wayside. We can only hope.
So, if you’re thinking of heading south in April, especially the weeks preceding or following Easter on April 17th, look for it to be crowded.
It won’t just be Americans and international travelers. Especially around beach cities, and Baja in particular, the Easter weeks are the busiest times for Mexican nationals to travel as well.
Many take the time off work to take vacations. Many go to visit family.
So, expect crowds at restaurants, bars, beaches and other gathering places. That includes airports especially. Prime arrival and departure times are expected to be packed.
In addition to everyone flying into Mexico, many Mexicans use the holidays to visit family and friends in the U.S. In fact, it’s the busiest time of the year to try to fly.
Busier than Christmas. Busier than Thanksgiving.
Therefore, give yourself extra time coming and going.
With the demand for travel, airline tickets will often be more expensive than any other time of the year and also more difficult to purchase as popular flights fill up.
That goes for rental cars also.
The rental agencies are over-run. The last two times we tried to rent vehicles in Cabo, we waited as long as two hours to get vehicles that had been reserved months in advance.
Put an extra case of “patience” in your luggage. Mexico is also going through the throes of not being able to find enough employees.
So service at hotels, restaurants and other spots might also be slower than expected. Keep smiling and just cut folks some slack. They’re doing their best.
Plan well. Mexico is waiting!
That’s my story!
Jonathan
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Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004. Along with his wife and fishing buddy, Jilly, they own and run the Tailhunter International Fishing Fleet in La Paz, Baja, Mexico www.tailhunter.com.
They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront. If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is: jonathan@tailhunter.com
Or drop by the restaurant to say hi. It’s right on the La Paz waterfront!
Originally Published the Week of Feb. 22, 2022 in Western Outdoor Publications
As many of you know, my wife Jill and I are “on tour” criss-crossing the U.S. from January to March in our rig. These are the months when we’re exhibiting at the fishing and hunting expositions with our booth on behalf of our Tailhunter Fishing Operation in La Paz and generally just trying to be good ambassadors for both the U.S. and Baja.
We’ve been on the road now for 6 weeks. At last count, we’ve been in 11 states.
I can’t begin to tell you every city and town we’ve stopped in. We’ve had shows in Reno, Sacramento, Seattle, Salt Lake City and, most recently in Portland.
So, almost everywhere, there are now mask mandates. Hotels, restaurants, stores, gas station, fast food joints. Signs are pretty much everywhere. I get it.
Some are enforced more than others. Most really aren’t enforced much at all. When we go into a place, we look around. If others have masks on or are giving us “stink eye” (pretty rare) we pull up the shields.
And pull them back down when we are clear.
Just part of life these days.
However, we just finished a huge show in Portland, Oregon.
Now, Portland is pretty strict about their masks. Everyone one is pretty tight about it. Right or wrong, it is what it is. I don’t make the laws or rules.
But, at the 5-day show we attended called the Northwest Sportsmens Expo, some interesting things happened.
First, the city of Portland and the managers of the gigantic Portland Expo Center told the show producers that there would be strict enforcement. All vendors and attendees MUST have masks on all the time.
Whether walking around; in the booths; or in the bathrooms. Cover up!
Or, the City was gonna shut down the show!
Everyone also had to keep social distancing when talking to each other.
So, I heard there were about 500 booths and vendors. Grizzled hunting outfitters from the northern woods and plains of the U.S. and South Africa, Asia and South America. Weathered cowboys running pack operation in the mountains. Former military guys representing gun and archery manufacturers. River guides and bush pilots. Mountain men and charter boat skippers.
And then there were about 10,000 attendees walking through the place and trying to talk to vendors and outfitters.
These aren’t the kinds of folks who seem to be too accustomed to being told how and what to do. It’s a rather self-sufficient and independent crowd.
Get my drift?
So, the first day of the show, we got constant booming announcements over the P.A. about keeping our masks on at all times.
Green-jacketed “mask cops” also walked around telling you to pull up your mask or telling folks to step back from booths so that we were 6 feet away from each other trying to do transactions.
Oh, and they were also taking names and there were threats of citations.
We kinda bristled. When you’re right in the middle of talking to a prospective client and told you gotta step back, its impossible trying to talk to each other from 6 feet away with a mask over your face.
And the ambient noise of several thousand folks also trying to talk and shout at each other through masks doesn’t help.
Being in Mexico most of the time, this was really the first time I’ve been in a “mega event” where masks and other protocols were being enforced.
We all got to be like little school kids seeing what we could get away with.
We’d signal each other when a green-jacketed mask police was coming down the aisle. Or, we’d suddenly grab a drink and pretend we were eating or munching on something.
And we’d smile and wave at the mask police officer!
Quite telling was what happened during the Star Spangled Banner.
Every morning at these expos, the Star Spangled Banner is played just before they open the doors to the public. All of us several hundred vendors and outfitters stop what we are doing.
We all silently face the flag on the wall of the facility with hands and hats over hearts…as it should be! It’s a moving red-white-and-blue moment every morning.
But, one of the first mornings, right in the middle of the solemnity of the flag salute, they broke into the anthem and stopped the music. Over the P.A, they reminded us all in no uncertain terms that we MUST wear our masks.
Simultaneously, the green-jacket mask police walked up and down the aisles. Not even saluting the anthem or the flag they brislkly trotted up and down the aisles taking names and telling vendors to pull up their masks.
There was something really wrong with that. There was a disturbance in the force and a number of other outfitters expressed the same sentiment. It grated on alot of us.
Imagine at a sporting event like a baseball game where they stopped the playing of the national anthem to remind everyone, “Now that we have your attention, we remind everyone to wear their masks or you will be thrown out!” We now return to the music!
As one outfitter later commented, “That was the current state of the U.S. in a nutshell.” Another said, “It felt anti-American.”
Over the next 4 days, I noticed a silent smirking revolt.
None of us wore our masks anymore. Fewer and fewer of the attendees were wearing their masks.
Neener neener to masks. Up yours (with a smile).
The mask police retreated little-by-little. They actually started gently apologizing for asking folks to wear masks. And smiling. I guess they didn’t exactly like their jobs either.
Or they simply began to recognize the futility of it.
When you have several thousand people thumbing their noses at the mandate, what were they going to do?
They eventually gave up. Even some of the mask officers stopped wearing their masks. The last few days of the show, most folks didn’t have masks unless they wanted to wear them.
Laws have no teeth if no one enforces them.
It reminded me of the Greek god Sisyphus who was cursed by the other gods to roll a huge boulder up a hill for all eternity. When he got to the top, the boulder just rolled back down the other side.
Agree or disagree with masks, but it was interesting to watch the transition.
That’s my story!
Jonathan
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Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004. Along with his wife and fishing buddy, Jilly, they own and run the Tailhunter International Fishing Fleet in La Paz, Baja, Mexico www.tailhunter.com.
They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront. If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is: jonathan@tailhunter.com
Or drop by the restaurant to say hi. It’s right on the La Paz waterfront!
I’m writing this at night from our hotel room in Boise, Idaho. We’re doing a banzai drive from Salt Lake City to get to Portland, Oregon. As fast as the speed limit will let us.
It seems strange to say that we’re not looking forward to being in Portland.
Let me back up.
For almost 30 years, I spend the better part of 3 months on the road exhibiting at all the huge hunting and fishing expositions across the western U.S. Every week another 4 or 5 day show.
My wife, Jill, and I haul our booth, a million brochures and flyers spreading the good word about fishing and vacationing in Baja. Specifically with our own Tailhunter Sportfishing in La Paz.
Thousands-upon-thousands of attendees wander and socialize with outfitters like ourselves in the fishing, hunting, camping, boating, RV and other outdoor pursuits. Us exhibitors sell our wares.
Each week finds us in different cities like Denver, Phoenix, Bozeman, Seattle, San Diego, Long Beach, Las Vegas even Anchorage, Alaska! Criss-crossing the U.S. up-down-back-and-forth in snow, rain, ice, and sunshine.
We’ve been on the road now almost 6 weeks and have finished shows in Reno, Sacramento, Puyallup (south of Seattle) and this past weekend in Salt Lake City. As previously mentioned, we’re back on the Pacific Coast in Portland this week.
A few weeks back in my column, I had commented about driving through so many cities and states and observing the differing covid-mask protocols or lack thereof. I also wrote about my observations of how everyone was hurting for employees. And how customer services were directly suffering from it.
We really didn’t know what to expect of the shows this year. In short, a crapshoot.
No one knew what the attendance would be like. No one knew how many vendors/ outfitters wouldn’t show-up as a result of covid; the fear of covid; or the local mandates and protocols.
As it turned out, attendance suffered at 3 of the 4 shows. All on the west coast.
Exhibitors were absent as well. Again, this was at all at the west coast shows in California, Washington and, to some degree, the Reno Show.
Masking/ testing/ vax card protocols were in place to greater or lesser degrees. Nothing was standardized
I guess that was to be expected. All these shows had been cancelled last year and it’s going to take awhile for them (and the public) to get back up to speed.
And now, we’re headed to Portland.
We love our Pacific Coast. My wife Jill and I both grew up on the West Coast. But, after our experiences the past month in California, Oregon and Washington, we’re dreading Portland, one of our favorite western cities.
I’ll tell ya why.
There’s been a drastic change. A polar shift. A techtonic social upheaval.
In Sacramento, we stay at a well-know hotel chain. Almost 20 years. Not the 4 Seasons or the Ritz Carlton, but hardly the Econo-Riverside Motel either.
Upon arrival. What a change!
People living in their cars in the parking lot. Broken cars everywhere. People living in boxes on busy public street. Multiple people living in rooms meant for 2. Trash everywhere. Tent camps everywhere. Open sewage/ excrement on sidewalks, planters…opens spaces.
Vagrant folks lining the streets. Stores trashed, littered and empty shelves. Such common things like soap, toothbrushes, laundry detergent, masking tape…all in locked cases!
I asked one store clerk what happened to all the shopping carts and shopping baskets. He said, “They all got stolen.”
The second night, our new Chevy Suburban rig got broken into. Not just busted windows. They tore the whole rear liftgate rendering our rig undriveable. Looks like a crowbar was used. Because nothing could be found inside, the bad guys took it out on the vehicle.
Fortunately, we had emptied the vehicle and nothing was taken. But, the vehicle was disabled.
Because of supply chain issues, parts not available!
Over the next few days, others also got burglarized. Police don’t come out because burglary is so common. And they are under-staffed like everyone else. You file a report online. That’s it.
I had to take Uber to the Expo. My driver said, in his neighborhood they leave their trunks and liftgates unlocked so the thieves don’t break in.
Except one day his neighbor found a guy sleeping in his trunk!
While at the show, several outfitters got their rigs completely stolen. One of our clients came to our booth and said several days earlier, he had been carjacked at gun-point by a guy who was escaping from a murder!
We headed north to Washington. Passing through Oregon (more on that later).
While in Washington State, more of the same. Tent cities scattered everywhere. Again, several of our outfitter friends had their trucks and trailers stolen. This time in broad daylight from “guarded” parking lots.
Friends who are law enforcement officers told us many vehicles are being stolen for the catalytic converters. And, many officers are quitting or taking early retirement leaving the remaining tired officers working overtime.
Oh, and new legislation prevents officers from giving chase. About all they can do is yell “Stop!” Also, if someone steals something less than $750 dollars and says “it’s a necessity”, no prosecution ensues.
We were advised by Washington friends not to go into downtown Seattle, again, one of our favorite cities to visit.
And now everyone-and-their-brother is warning us against Portland now. And saying it’s even worse. Even before the pandemic, the area and hotels around the Portland Expo Center were rife with homeless and property crime was rampant.
Vehicles at the Expo and surrounding areas, were regularly targeted. Our own van was broken into several years ago. Police told us that the thieves love vehicles belonging to the outfitters because they are often loaded with camping gear, fishing gear, electronics, outdoor clothing and yes…firearms.
So, now they tell us it’s even going to be worse. And definitely do NOT go into Portland metro.
Tell you what. Several of us outfitters were standing around. We were somberly discussing the crime these days while on the show tours now. All of them hunting and fishing guides.
I quietly admitted that my wife and I both have our concealed-carry permits and that I always carry a firearm now. There was a little pause among the group.
I thought I was going get some blowback for carrying. Big burley mountain guys and salty fishing captains staring at me.
As it turned out, all of them were carrying. In fact, talking to most of the other vendors in their booths, everyone either had firearms in their booths, on their person, or in their cars.
My wife wouldn’t let us drive this year without a (legal) shotgun hidden in the car.
As one Alaska guide told me, “I carry a big pistol to guard against grizzly bears attacks in the bush. But, I’m even more afraid to walk around the cities. So, of course, I carry. Bears are predictable. Idiot people are not.”
It’s gotten pretty sad. Portland, here we come.
Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst. The new normal.
Update: Just finished the Portland Show. We did NOT go downtown. The area around the Expo Center was tragic. Many of the outfitters and vendors said they would not come back. Someone tried to break into our vehicle 3 times, but the alarm scared them off although we were messaged that someone had tried to open the doors…twice when we just ran into a gas station just to buy some soda for the road. It happened that fast! Several vehicles in the parking lot at the Expo Center were burglarized as well.
That’s my story
Jonathan
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Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004. Along with his wife and fishing buddy, Jilly, they own and run the Tailhunter International Fishing Fleet in La Paz, Baja, Mexico www.tailhunter.com.
They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront. If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is: jonathan@tailhunter.com
Or drop by the restaurant to say hi. It’s right on the La Paz waterfront!
I’ve always loved history. Given a choice, history might be my favorite subject to read or study.
And I really like trivia.
I was researching some info on Mexico’s imports/ exports and came across some really interesting facts about Mexico and World War 2.
WHA??? Mexico in World War 2? The BIG ONE?
Well, actually that was my reaction. Complete surprise.
I mean, when you think of the major combatants of that global conflict, you think of the U.S., England, Italy, Canada, Germany, Japan, Russia. All the main players, right?
And, of course, pretty much the rest of the world from the Philippines to Finland and Algiers to Australia.
Mexico doesn’t exactly come to mind.
And, you probably wouldn’t believe that Mexico was an ally to the United States. That’s not a partnership that generally pops to the forefront of historical discussion.
But, yes, Mexico absolutely stuck one in the eye of the Axis powers.
Even before the U.S. was thrust into the war with the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December of 1941, countries had a strong foreboding of impending conflict.
Fortuitously, Mexico and the U.S. settled the usual border tensions with reciprocal trade agreements whereby Mexico continued to supply raw materials to the United States. Conversely, the U.S. helped stabilize the peso and Mexican economy by-way-of-long term loans as well as military aid for the Mexican military.
When Pearl Harbor was attacked in December 1942, Mexico terminated all relations with the Axis powers. It was one of the first countries to show support for the U.S. It also closed all of it’s ports to Germany thereby securing the Gulf of Mexico for the U.S.
The Mexican people were initially very reluctant and adamant about joining in the armed conflict.
However, that changed several months later in May of 1942. German U-boats torpedoed two Mexican tankers in the Gulf of Mexico.
Hitler was unrepentant about the attacks.
And Mexico took the gloves off.
Mexico declared war on the Axis. It also urged other Latin American countries to follow suit.
Mexico instituted nation military service as well as civil defense. However, it’s main contribution to the war was the continued steady supply of raw materials to the U.S. war effort.
As much as 40% of the raw material for the American war machine came from Mexico.
Moreso, although most other Latin American countries sided with the allies, only Mexico and Brazil sent armed combatants to the front.
At the invitation of the U.S. Mexico put together a special combat team of airmen. The Mexican President Manuel Comacho gathered up more than 300 volunteers including more than 30 hand-picked experienced pilots and the rest veteran groundcrew.
After receiving extensive combat training in Texas and Idaho, the “Aztec Eagles” were dubbed the “201st Fighter Squadron” and attached to the American 58th Fighter Group.
Flying P-47 Thunderbolt Fighter Aircraft, the “Pancho Pistolas” were deployed to the Philippines and flogged more than 1900 hours of flight time and 795 combat sorties. Their bombing runs and attacks were instrumental in helping push the Japanese off the islands of Formosa and Luzon in some of the toughest fighting in the Pacific.
Eight of the pilots were killed. One was shot down. One crashed. Three others ran out’ve fuel over the ocean and lost at sea. Three others died in training.
Their ground crews were also involved in ground combat on several occasions.
According to Wikipedia, “The 201st Mexican Squadron was given credit for putting out of action about 30,000 Japanese troops [4] and the destruction of enemy held-buildings, vehicles, tanks, anti-aircraft guns, machine guns emplacements and ammunition depots.”
After the war, they returned to Mexico to a hero’s welcome. A number of the pilots ended up becoming generals in the Mexican Air Force in later years.
The Aztec Eagle’s squadron remains active today. It is the only military unit from Mexico to engage in combat outside it’s borders.
In addition to the pilots, Mexico contributed in other ways.
Although it was adamant about sending ground trips, Mexico did allow the United States to recruit Mexicans to the American Army. Between 1942 and and 1943 almost 7,000 Mexicans volunteered to fight for the the U.S. In fact, the embassy was so overrun they had to close.
Nevertheless, somewhere estimates of 15,000 to 400,000 Mexican-born troops enlisted. Statistics are not clear. However, almost 2,000 would become casualties.
Many were decorated and four who were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor during combat in the European and Pacific Theaters of war.
Viva Mexico, Cabrones!
That’s my story!
Jonathan
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Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004. Along with his wife and fishing buddy, Jilly, they own and run the Tailhunter International Fishing Fleet in La Paz, Baja, Mexico http://www.tailhunter.com.
They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront. If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is: jonathan@tailhunter.com
Or drop by the restaurant to say hi. It’s right on the La Paz waterfront!
_____________
Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004. Along with his wife and fishing buddy, Jilly, they own and run the Tailhunter International Fishing Fleet in La Paz, Baja, Mexico www.tailhunter.com.
They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront. If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is: jonathan@tailhunter.com
Or drop by the restaurant to say hi. It’s right on the La Paz waterfront!
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That's My Story 