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| Lilian Vega proves that romance blossoms in tough economic times |
ROSARITO BEACH, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO---The legendary Rosarito Beach Hotel is offering the chance to rediscover the resort and the tourist city for $19.25 a night Sundays through Thursdays from Sept. 14 through Oct. 29, 2009.
The rate applies to select rooms in its oceanfront Coronado Tower, one of three at the 500-room resort which, not coincidentally, opened in 1925. U.S. holidays and special events are excluded, and reservations must be made by Sept. 14.
“The $19.25 price is the lowest we have offered in decades,” said hotel Executive Director Laura Torres, a third-generation owner of the landmark hotel. “The weather is perfect and it’s a beautiful time to be here.”
“The price of $19.25 is a reminder of the year we opened,” Ms. Torres said. “More importantly, we want to give people an irresistible incentive to rediscover this wonderful area and the resort. That’s why we’re calling the program Rediscover Rosarito.”
The hotel also will offer lower rates on attractive packages and suites, including the 271 in its 18-story luxury condo-hotel Pacifico Tower, which opened in 2007.
Rosarito, 30 miles south of San Diego, is known for its pristine beaches, surfing, fine dining including the famous Puerto Nuevo Lobster Village, exceptional shopping and original arts.
It also home to Baja Studios, where James Cameron’s Titanic and Master & Commander were filmed and which now offers tours and a museum of Titanic sets and memorabilia.
The city has been so popular with its many visitors that an estimated 14,000 expatriates now call it home.
The hotel opened in 1925 and become the resort for Baja and Southern California, including Hollywood. Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Rita Hayworth, Gregory Peck and John Wayne are among the galaxy of stars who have been guests.
The hotel has a quarter-mile fishing pier, two restaurants, including Chabert’s, the world-class Casa Playa Spa located in the former family mansion, world-class music and dance events, bars and fine shops. It also is a popular wedding destination.
Advance registration is required to take advantage of the $19.25 offer. People can visitwww.RosaritoBeachHotel.com or call 1-866-ROSARITO.
MEDIA CONTACT: Ron Raposa
A BLAST FROM THE PASTby Lynn Prince
Music of the 1960s was characteristic of the revolution that was going on during the decade. It was a time of rebellion and counter-culture in which the younger people were questioning everything, including authority, government, every aspect of life and the status quo. It was a fun, unique experience . . . just talk to any baby-boomers who were adolescents during that era and they will tell you how fun and fortunate they were to grow up in the '60s.
With that in mind Sonora Is Safe, in their efforts to promote tourism and the Sonoran economy, has created a Blast From the Past with a two-day concert in San Carlos with one of the best Rock and Roll bands in the Tucson area . . . The Retro Rockets.
Their music is centered on great oldies, and their high-energy classic rock with outrageous vocal harmonies wows audiences young and old alike! Their music is pretty intergenerational . . . so bring the kids to this one!
This four-member Tucson band sings three-part harmony so sweetly that you’ll think you’re listening to the original recording. You will enjoy songs from The Beatles, The Monkees, The Turtles, The Beach Boys and many others.
The Retro Rockets will be at La Palapa Restaurant on September 18 and 19, and November 27 and 28 for a 5–8 p.m. concert on the beach. Don your '60's clothes and come prepared to dance your golden slippers off doing The Twist, the Mashed Potato, the Monster Mash, the Monkey and the Dog, the Frug and the Hully Gully, and all those very cool dances the 60’s music generated . . . because this group's music is fireworks for the dance floor crowd!
For more information, visit www.SonoraIsSafe.com or email safesonora@hotmail.com.
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by Benjamin Eugene
Those who picture Baja California as an unrelieved desert would be surprised to discover the highest part of the backbone of the peninsula is covered by conifer forests, with winter snows and flowered meadows in the summer.
This is the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir, a mountain chain that runs north-south along the middle part of the northwestern Mexican state of Baja California, with its name Spanish for "mountains of Saint Peter the Martyr." The highest point is Cerro de la Encantada, 3,096 meters (10,158 feet). Also known as Picacho del Diablo (Devil’s Peak), this is the highest point in the state of Baja California, as well as the entire Baja California Peninsula, and a popular expert rock climbing and rappelling destination.
The Sierra San Pedro Mártir is a sky island of rugged forested ridges and broad meadows, standing high above the coastal slopes to the west and dropping sharply to the San Felipe desert on the east.
The Sierra de San Pedro Mártir is a good example of a "sky island" because the species that inhabit this mountain range have been separated from related creatures that live in adjacent high-elevation areas by their inability to cross the hotter, drier low-elevation deserts. This physical isolation has permitted genetic drifts among several local plant and animal populations, producing variations found only in the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir.
Probably the best example is the Nelson's rainbow trout, a species tolerant of warm water and native to a few permanent pools and west flowing streams. Others animals include 20 subspecies of birds, and 5 species and 8 subspecies of mammals. Beyond these are the more familiar animals such as bighorn sheep, mule deer, cougars and many smaller species.
The Sierra de San Pedro Mártir became a national park in 1947, and work is now underway for it to be designated as part of the International Biosphere Preserve, a most worthy distinction for this unique place.
Its geological history is closely related to the events that were responsible for the formation of the other peninsular range complexes to the north, including the Sierra Juárez of Baja California, the Cuyamaca and Laguna mountains of San Diego County, and the San Jacinto mountains of Riverside County.
The climate is similar to that of mountains of southern California, with the main precipitation coming from winter storms, and occasional summer monsoon storms.
This natural area, which is also home to the National Astronomy Observatory of the Autonomus University of Mexico (Longitude: 115° 27´49; West Latitude: 31° 02´39 North), built in 1971 on a neighboring peak from Picacho del Diablo, and is home to Mexico's largest optical telescope, with a diameter of 2.12 meters, and a weight of 40 tons in total.
The National Observatory is located on a 9,000-foot ridge overlooking the San Felipe Desert thousands of feet below. The facility consists of a world-class 82-inch reflecting telescope, along with several smaller units. Astronomers from around the world come here to take advantage of the excellent conditions where light and atmospheric pollution is minimal.
At the top of the range are ranches and beautiful isolated campsites surrounded by giant old growth, Jeffrey and lodgepole pines, and extensive groves of quaking aspens with hiking trails leading to Blue Bottle, a 2,900-meter (9,500-foot) rise, and Picacho del Diablo.
Side Bar:
Activities: Expeditions, walking, mountaineering, mountain biking, horse riding, camping, flora and fauna watching, as well as sky watching.
A unique experience is walking to the viewpoint at El Altar, at over 8,000 feet, you can see both the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortez at the same time, or visiting the Misión de San Pedro Mártir de Verona (1794-1824) by horse ride for two and a half days with the help of a guide.
Classification: National Park since 1947; priority area.
Location: Located in Sierra de San Pedro Mártir mountains in the center of Baja California.
Surface: 65,000 hectares/160,550 acres
Weather: Extreme mediterranean climate, with dry and hot summers, and rainy winters, snowing during cold periods of winter.
Vegetation: Pine, fir, cypress and poplar forests.
Wildlife: Ram, cougar, black tail deer, mountain lion, royal eagle, owl, raccoon, coyotes, among others.
Access: Departing from Ensenada by the transpeninsular road Highway 1 at Km 243 (Km 140 section Ensenada-San QuintÃn) in San Telmo de Abajo, take the small road to the east (there is a signal), keep going 47 miles and you'll arrive at the National Park entry.
Further information: Request a Baja California National Parks guide in the tourism office of your locality.
Resources: San Diego Natural History Museum, Wikipedia, Discover Baja California, Baja State Secretary of Tourism.
| Updated: 11:00 PM PDT on August 07, 2009 | |
 | Saturday Clear. High: 35 °C . Wind NW 10 km/h . |
 | Saturday Night Clear. Low: 25 °C . Wind WSW 10 km/h . Heat Index: 28 °C . |
| Sunday Clear. High: 35 °C . Wind ESE 14 km/h . Heat Index: 33 °C . |
| Sunday Night Clear. Low: 26 °C . Wind SSE 10 km/h . Heat Index: 29 °C . |
| Monday Clear. High: 37 °C . Wind ESE 14 km/h . Heat Index: 35 °C . |
 | Monday Night Chance of Rain. Scattered Clouds. Low: 28 °C . Wind WSW 10 km/h . Chance of precipitation 20% (trace amounts). Heat Index: 31 °C . |
| Tuesday Clear. High: 38 °C . Wind East 14 km/h . Heat Index: 37 °C . |
 | Tuesday Night Partly Cloudy. Low: 30 °C . Wind West 10 km/h . Heat Index: 32 °C . |
 | Wednesday Scattered Clouds. High: 39 °C . Wind ESE 14 km/h . Heat Index: 38 °C . |
| Wednesday Night Chance of Rain. Overcast. Low: 30 °C . Wind WSW 10 km/h . Chance of precipitation 20% (trace amounts). Heat Index: 32 °C . |
 | Thursday Chance of Rain. Scattered Clouds. High: 38 °C . Wind ESE 18 km/h . Chance of precipitation 20% (trace amounts). Heat Index: 38 °C . |
| Thursday Night Clear. Low: 28 °C . Wind NNW 10 km/h . Heat Index: 32 °C . |
Doesn't matter which city or country you're in, there is likely to be a pizza parlor, pizza delivery or at the very least frozen pizza you can take and bake yourself. San Felipe is no different; there are least four different pizza choices. But of them all, one stands out—Rabbit Pizza. 
