Ensenada Info Links

Have cleaned up my Ensenada Info Links page, access via page bar above.  Click on link logos/photos below.  Any suggestions for Ensenada and northeastern Baja info WELCOME.  bajadock@gmail.com

Ensenada and Valle de Guadalupe INTERACTIVE area entertainment map. Categories and lists are on left hand side of the page. Restaurants, shopping, hotels, gift shops, entertainment and more. Zoom, category selection, reviews & websites are some of the features. Over 300 locations mapped as of 2013. Your feedback on this one helps improve it.

Border Wait Time site for California border crossings including USER feedback which is normally twice the wait time that is given by the Customs and Border Patrol. Also includes every crossing into USA from Canada and Mexico.

List of Ensenada restaurants by category. Unfortunately, they do not link to the establishments, so you will have to plug in the NAME to Facebook or Web Browser.   94.68+% of my Ensenada restaurant searches find that they have a Facebook page to access info, hours, location, maps.

Events, updated news, entertainment

Ensenada events, restaurants, activity and information, maps. I use this site lots for my own entertainment needs!

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RECENT Mexican gasoline prices with Liter:gallon, Peso: USD and Peso: Canadian Dollar CONVERSIONS

Get your Mexican car insurance from BajaBound. Easy online policy in a few minutes. Do NOT risk driving into Mexico without Mex insurance. Professional and personal staff that often travels in Baja can also assist you live!

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Online Yellow Pages Directory for Ensenada area. Works best if you can translate your search into Spanish(see Spanish=English translating tool below)

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Discussion forum of Baja residents and travelers with photos, news, food, events, howto(visas, licenses, hotels, 4WD trails, surf spots) and more resources with a SEARCH function

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Most complete Baja California newspaper(Tijuana, Rosarito, Ensenada, Mexicali)

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Ensenada daily newspaper in English translation

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Ensenada event calendar

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(Spanish<=>English) for regional food, groceries, restaurants, seafood…

Traditional mexican recipes from chef Rick Bayless

Punta Banda Newsletter is an online resource for Americans in the Ensenada area. Local neighborhood Yahoo Group info: news, 4sale, events, community calendar, phone book and other stuff(thanks to Team T)

San Diego daily newspaper with Mex/US Border news including Baja California and Southern California

FREE online Phrases, vocabulary by category, lessons and more

Spanish – English translator, online Spanish classes, conjugation, flashcards, forum and more

Mexican slang translator

$USD:peso, Liter:gallon, Km:mile and more CONVERSIONS

Ensenada Weather Underground station in downtown ‘Nada. Also has a link at bottom of page to Punta Banda weather stations.

Ensenada Marineros Baseball Chicas

Ensenada Marineros Baseball cheerleaders are a treat for your entertainment value.  See baseball calendar for schedule.

Punta Banda Ensenada

By Tom Gatch, photos by Lynn Gatch Via Baja.com

Punta Banda is a narrow, mostly barren, finger of land that pokes out into the Pacific Ocean at the southern end of Bahia Todos Santos near the City of Ensenada.

Standing not far from the tip, bus loads of bug-eyed tourists regularly stare out at the myriad of sharp, guano-covered outcroppings as they munch on fish tacos and wait for the next influx of water to surge through the legendary blowhole, then spurt up in the air and dissolve into a fine, cool mist.

Shack-like concession stands line the end of the road leading to “La Bufadora.”

Eager vendors offer visitors everything from the usual array of curios, plaster deities, and metal sculptures to humble preparations of shellfish, or fried seafood.

Some of the other residents are fishermen, or charter skiff operators who make a good portion of their income catering to the needs of American anglers and scuba divers that come to this special hideaway to take advantage of the abundant marine life that still exists in the waters surrounding the rugged peninsula and its many hidden coves.

The hand of nature has carefully scooped a beautiful crescent shaped bay from the land just south of the blowhole, providing a nearly perfect anchorage that is protected from the northern wind and swells.

On a calm day, the waters around La Bufadora turn Mediterranean with cool, clear turquoise hues that anoint the eyes of the weary.

complete article

Ensenada Cam

Random thoughts from this crusty curmudgeon today before the sun jumps above my view east.

1. Do I need to reinstall a clock in my bedroom to get me rolling out of bed at 6?  The time change has me lazing in bed all the way until 6:40 past few days.  I need to get up and accomplish things…like drinking coffee, sitting on my couch, gaze at the sunrise, look at photos of cats and read political arguments.

2. No, I am not a cat fan.  They are too independent and that reminds me of someone I know.

3. No, I am not a fan of politicians.  The left vs. right arguments are simply distractions to the biggest wasters of time and money ever invented…ummm, that was before the staged and scripted dramas known as “reality tv”…ummm and that was before the smoke watch at the Italian chimney cam.  Wow, all drama queens!

4. Why the drama when I’m searching for a product or service on the intertube?  Instead of giving me a simple list of top 10 electronic components, cars, starch substitutes, bodyweight workouts, etc, I need to progress slowly through a gauntlet of frames to get the information I am seeking.  This digital “striptease” that slices up the list into individual compartments to pump advertising annoys me.

5. Why do I need to sign in to a website just to read an article?  NYT is the worst.  The article will be available elsewhere in a few hours, so I search and read it freely later without adding to their subscriber/hit rate.

6. “Doc, I don’t see you on Facebook any more.  What is new?”.  FB identifies entertainment opportunities for me.  FB itself does not entertain me.  What is new is that I’m working out my bod, drumming, reading, taking care of my money, cooking and very busy being happy.  And on my drumming, my left/weak hand is gaining quickly on my right.  [insert joke here]  What’s yours?

7. “Doc, I haven’t seen you in a while.  Where have you been?”.  I have a list of canned replies for this one including, “Do you need a map?”, but, that’s a tad harsh of a bitch slap.  I’m easy to find and the beverages flow easily at my home, IF you are interested.

8.  Back to politricks, didjaknow that I can get food stamps?  Ridiculous.  I won’t participate.  Wow, the good ole USA is promoting more victims daily.  Celebrating tragedy vs. accomplishment is the culture.  If it bleeds, it leads.  Sad.

9. “Doc, you don’t participate in the community.  Why are you so reclusive?”.  Define “participate”.  Define “community”.  I’m not going to follow or hang with the herd.  And I socialize a lot more than most see.  I just don’t post every trip for gasoline or my secret churro addiction on Trip Advisor.

10.  Thanks to my friends and neighbors who have helped me so much.  Your tolerance with me is appreciated.   CHEERS and SLAINTE!

Valley Girl Wine Tours

by Sitara Monica Perez , a full time resident and adventurer of the Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California

Valley Girl Wine Tours combine wine tasting and a country drive through the enchanting Guadalupe Valley, home of the best wines that Mexico has to offer.

Let me entertain you with insider trivia and the history of winemaking in the valley as we brave the bumpy dirt roads that lead to distinctive artisanal wines created by the passionate men and women who are putting Guadalupe Valley wine and cuisine on the international radar. A guaranteed one-of-a-kind experience.

Flexible itineraries customized to your tastes and preferences.  Go bargain-basement or first class or we can mix it up.

Touring options and fees are negotiable.  Tantalized taste buds, a bit of knowledge and fun are included at no extra charge.

Contact me and let’s plan your Guadalupe Valley wine tasting adventure now!  sitara.perez@gmail.com

valleygirlbajawine.com

“The Guadalupe Valley is like Napa and Sonoma valleys 50 years ago.”  Chef John Ash, father of Wine Country Cuisine

Cala Trattoria

Miguel y Fernando a Cala Trattoria

Two friends treated me to Cala Trattoria in Ensenada for some pasta passion last week.

Cala is a small restaurant serving simple Italian dishes at inexpensive prices.   Miguel was as warm and welcoming to us as the atmosphere.   If Cala seats more than 16 people, guests are sitting on laps.  Loveit!

Miguel is working on his adult beverage license with the usual delays of the local business prevention bureaucrats.  They have a minimal offering of wine from L A Cetto.  Miguel insists that he will have a broad wine selection in the very near future.  But, he had no problem with me bringing in 2 bottles from the wine store a few blocks away.

We asked for a couple of appetizers while I headed out to collect our wine.  Upon my return, I was greeted with those great smells of garlic and sauces that were first imprinted on me as a kid.   The bruschetta dish and portobello in olive oil & wine were good beginnings for our feast.

 

The 3 of us are salad eaters and I enjoyed Cala’s cilantro dressing on mine.

We chose 3 different pasta dinners.  One red sauce, one chipotle cream sauce and a simple olive oil and garlic sauce made for a fun variety to share.  The aromas and flavors were seductive.

The unique feature about Cala is their homemade pasta.  You can see it waiting for you from your seat.  My favorite feature of their food is that the sauces are simple and fresh.

I was especially hungry this night and glad we had the 3 course treatment.  The salad and pasta dish would satisfy on most nights.  But, I like to experience as many flavors as possible for my first visit to a restaurant.

Service is easy here as staff(Miguel and Fernando) are within arm’s reach during your dinner.

Cala’s location is at Riveroll and 2nd street.  1PM – 10PM, closed Tuesdays.  Credit cards accepted.  646-204-9259  facebook

From the menu below you can see that everything is in the 100 peso($8 usd) range.

Rating: 4 out of 5 mushrooms swimming in olive oil and garlic      

Terra Noble Restaurante

My first visit to the  El Viento “restaurant park” on the north side of Ensenada was a simple and delicious dining experience at Terra Noble Restaurante.  First impression is the 180 degree panoramic view of the ocean from the Punta Banda peninsula to the south and the Salsipuedes Mirador to the north.  My friend chose a warm, sunny day for this visit following a few days of cold and rain.

Before another  friend started writing about the restaurants hiding behind the fence that looks like a kids’ home made clubhouse at KM 104, just north of downtown Ensenada, I thought El Viento was another real estate development in planning stage.

The minimalist design of the exterior and interior allow guests to focus on the views and the food.  We were met with enthusiasm by 2 staff members, seated and provided simple one page menus.   Conversation was lively and allowed me to forget to photograph the menu.  But, my recollection is that Terra Noble‘s menu included a handful of starters, 3 salads and approximately 8-10 entrees.

View south, to Punta Banda, from Terra Noble’s terrace

When the wine opportunities were offered, I was wishing I had brought a bottle from home.  Most Ensenada restaurants only charge a corkage fee of 50 to 1oo pesos.  Copas(glasses) of house wines were the only available vino offering at Terra Noble.

As we pressed our hostess for the only type of red available, we hopped on a bottle of Nebbiolo/Tempranillo blend.  The smell and first sips were young and bit untamed.  Within 5 minutes, the local blend mellowed and turned us into fans.

We were busy catching up on life and were more interested in sipping and chatting than diving into a huge meal.  So we slowed down and eventually shared a ceviche appetizer, a spinach and bacon dressed salad and a mushroom wine sauced beef tenderloin with potato pancake.

chunky Terra Noble ceviche

The ceviche was thick cubes of an unknown and firm fish with tomatoes, carrots, thinly sliced onions, jalapeños and olives served with rectangular baked tostada crackers.  That dish would be a nice light meal alone.

Next up was the simple spinach leaf salad with a light bacon & olive oil dressing.

The beef tenderloin was a perfect medium rare and covered in a mushroom gravy.  What looked like an accessory egg dish on the side of the beef surprised me.  I cut into this to discover the smell of a grilled potato pancake.

Service was attentive and they were very accommodating for our slow evening and plate sharing.  We enjoyed our relaxing and delicious dinner so much, that my camera forgot to photo the rest of the meal.

Terra Noble might seat 30 guest  inside and add a few tables on the ocean-viewing deck.    They were also playing a mix of classical music, including a mystery cello solo CD that we will have to identify on our next visit.

Hours are 9am to 6pm, Tuesday through Sunday.  They did not hurry us out as our exit was approximately 6:30.   Terra Noble is on the Ensenada Interactive Map, link is top left of this site.  Interesting that wifi internet is available.  I used their facebook page to message them for a reservation.  They replied promptly.  As it is a small restaurant, a reservation is a good idea.

If you are exiting at night, a suggestion is to bring a flashlight with you to navigate the boardwalk that leads out to the parking lot.

Terra Noble, at Km 104 of Mex Hwy 1 in El Sauzal area of north Ensenada, can be found approx 3.5 miles south of the Ensenada toll booth.  Find the only 16 story condo tower on the water in Ensenada and you are only 1/2 mile north of Terra Noble.  Look for the funky wood fence that is the signature of the El Viento restaurant park.  There was an attendant in the parking lot and I’ll assume he is always there during business hours.

Cruise Line Decline

Editor’s note: Carnival Cruiser “Inspiration” docked into Ensenada early this morning.  Hope those passengers are enjoying the mid 40′sF temperatures, wind, rain and hail.   BRRRRRR!   Today’s weather

Ensenada, Baja California, February 20 (UIEM.) – During January 211 cruisers arrived at the Mexican ports, down by 1.4 percent compared with the same period in 2012, as three periods totaling continued downward and away from the registered in 2010 when 327 boats arrived.

According to the Monthly Statistical Report of freight movement, passenger ships and General Coordination of Ports and Merchant Marine (CGPMM), the mentioned period ended with 147 passengers less than in 2012, ie 519 000 521.

However, this amount is 25 percent lower than in 2009, when 701 000 274 ​​passengers arrived in the first month of the year.

For Ensenada figure remained unchanged over the same period last year, with 16 passengers and 36.767, marginally higher than last year, while the average passenger stood at 2.298 with an increase of 2.1 percent . Thus Ensenada participated with more than seven percent of total passengers carried.

In January, the terminal remained cruise ship arrivals between 2012 and 2013 were Pichilingue, Loreto, Guaymas, Topolobampo, Mazatlan, Tampico, Veracruz, Dos Bocas Seybaplaya, Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, Cancun and Punta Venado.

While ports registered a slight growth were La Paz, Puerto Escondido, Acapulco, Cozumel and Progreso, the latter from 111 to 123.

Ensenada and San Carlos received the same number of cruises, 16 and one, respectively, but the end of Cabo San Lucas, Santa Rosalia, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo, Zihuatanejo, Puerto Chiapas and Majahual, posted declines of 20 percent or not this type came boat, when in 2012 did report arrivals.

Regarding passenger cruise in the Pacific recorded a low of 10.6 percent, while in the Gulf-Caribbean area a slight rise of 2.3 percent.

Hometown

Ensenada Centro…view from my house

A friend asked if I was coming “home” to Cleveland.  Yes, I was born on the shores of Lake Erie.  But, I haven’t visited in over 30 years. Even if  my parents still lived in that small house in Cleveland where I grew up, I would not consider that home.

A week ago, a realtor friend asked how often I return “home” to Denver.  I lived most of my life in Colorado.  But, I have only visited once in the past 6 years.

When I let neighbors know that I was visiting my mother in Florida, they asked me how long I would be visiting back “home”.  My parents did some moving from Cleveland to Pittsburgh to Boston to Florida after I left the nest.

None of the places above are my home.  When people ask, “Where are you from?”, I answer, “Denver”.  The mile high city is also listed as my “hometown” for my Facebook page.

I rarely mention Cleveland.  Must be some sort of psychological repression on my part.  I think at about age 10, I made it my mission to escape Cle-town.  Successfully completing that task at age 18, I’m not going back there.

I suppose some consider their birthplace as “home” due to a romantic memory of mom’s apple pie or dad’s pipe.  Maybe it’s different for us single, independent types.

My home is on the south side of Ensenada bay, Baja California, Mexico.   Climate, coast, culture and cuisine are exceptionally different and more pleasing than any other place that I have lived.

Mi casa es MI casa.   I’m a true hogareño, as my car often does not move for 7 to 10 days at a time.

What’s yours?

Mi casa es MI casa.  I’m a true hogareño, as my car often does not move for 7 to 10 days at a time.

Definition of HOME

1

a : one’s place of residence : domicile

 b : house

2

: the social unit formed by a family living together

3

a : a familiar or usual setting : congenial environment; also : the focus of one’s domestic attention <home is where the heart is>

 b : habitat

4

a : a place of origin <salmon returning to their home to spawn>; also : one’s own country <having troubles at home and abroad>

 b : headquarters 2 <home of the dance company>

Ensenada Meteor Craters

complete story