Ensenada's 131 Anniversary

Ex-Hotel Riviera Founded in 1930 now is the Civic Center of  Ensenada

    Last weekend was Ensenada's 131 Anniversary celebrated at the Ex-Hotel Riviera gardens, music entertainment, food, kids activities, wine and beer, folklore dances, shopping, it was a very good event for the public with no cost.  Was a wonderful evening with the nice weather of Ensenada.  Here some pics and videos of the local bands playing  (The Light Band, and Takon Machine)...

Check this out is Takon Machine playing Take on Me with a cumbia rhythm

Takon Machine playing A Little Respect with a cumbia rhythm

The Light Band

Hand painted ceilings inside Ex-Hotel Riviera and chandeliers from 1930

Kids play area

Folcklore dances

Ex-Hotel Riviera Clock

VIÑEDO EN FLOR 2013 LAS NUBES VINEYARD

This event is in a different vineyard in May of every year, includes a courtesy glass and you can enjoy a wine tasting of every participant winery (This is included in your ticket).

This event is for charity in benefit  for the homeless, the auction for the paintings during the event is also for charity.

Also there are activities for the kids, this is a family event ( children free entrance). This year they had a kite activity, kids brought their bicycles, art and painting for kids.

Food is available for a modest price you could have a very good meal (pork ribs, tabbouleh, beef kabobs, gourmet hot dogs, grilled veggies, potato salad, BBQ, cheese platters, a variety of breads, olive oil and preserves, wines and much more!!!

Here some pics of the event:
 

Wine tasting with cheese platter, olives, olive oil and bread all organic.

Olive and rosemary bread.

Art activity with kids, they paint and a local artist finished the paint for auction.

Wine tasting area

Enjoying the evening at the vineyard

For dessert Mexican Flan delicious!

Paint auctioned for almost $500 dlls

Las Nubes vineyard in Valle de Guadalupe

Fiesta de los Viñedos en Flor 2013

Las Nubes vineyard

Grilled pork ribs and Tabbouleh, amazing!

Lamb kabobs and grilled veggies, delicious!

Pork ribs and potato salad, also they had a chilli oil and chimichurri sauce amazing! everything was delicious!

 This year the event venue was in Las Nubes Vineyard located in Valle de Guadalupe http://www.vinoslasnubesbc.com/

Vendimia Calendar ( Wine Feast Calendar)

This month starts some wine parties at the vineyards, here I let you the link to the site that has the calendar of all the events coming this summer. http://www.provinoac.org/
In this site you can also purchase the tickets.

2CELLOS (Sulic & Hauser) - Smooth Criminal

Playing this next August in Ensenada's Wine Feast ( Fiesta de la Vendimia 2013)
They went viral with this video and Sir Elton John asked them  to play in his tour.
They will play at a Vineyard this August 3rd.

Las Cañadas (waterpark)

   Las Cañadas this water park is situated at 15 minutes south of Ensenada, you will enjoy amazing pools for all ages, for the more adventurous there are a route of zip lines (Canopy Tour), motor cross and bike route, grills where you can make your CARNE ASADA (BBQ) , hamburgers or whatever you like, there is a lagoon to enjoy with a paddle boat, many space to practice sports, cabins if you want to spend the night and there is a camping site too. Just bring your groceries, there is a small store only.  Have fun and visit this summer.  http://www.lascanadas.com/

Pescado Empapelado (Seabass in foil) find it in our recipe link

Pescado empapelado

Cheese Cellar in Ojos Negros

LA CAVA DE DON MARCELO ( Cheese Cellar ) Rancho La Campana

     I really recommend you to visit this place in Ojos Negros, fun for everyone, couples, family, kids, friends.  It's an outdoor and indoor experience.  It's a beautiful farm, they have a playground for the kids, an outdoor kitchen that serves different dishes with Real del Castillo cheese as the main ingredient (Ramonetti Cheese), it's a very fine cuisine all organic and made in the grill, they have salads, fish, lamb, rib eye, and much more.

     You can enjoy a beautiful day in this place, have lunch, take the cheese making tour (a tour around the property, you will see the cows and then all the cheese making process in their facility) and finally try the different cheeses ( some of them aged cheeses) with pairings and a glass of wine in their amazing Cheese Cellar.

     Rancho La Campana is located in Ojos Negros in Ejido Real del Castillo, take the road to (San Felipe-Ojos Negros) you passed Ojos Negros by 3.5 km there you will see the signs to Cava de Quesos Don Marcelo at your left, it's about 15 minutes of dirt road, just follow the signs.

    It's open to the public during the weekends from 1pm -6pm .  For more information (646) 175-70-73
http://lacavademarcelo.com.mx/

Ceviche Baja find it in the recipe link...

Shrimp Ceviche Tostadas

Parque del Niño ( Valle de Guadalupe)

     In El Porvenir in Valle de Guadalupe you can find a park for children and adults to enjoy the day and have lots of fun, they have grills so you if you want to make a BBQ or Carne Asada you just need to bring your groceries, beverages are not allowed to enter the park, you will have to buy them inside the park ( it's not expensive at all, prices inside are around $1 to $3 dlls, for the entrance is a minimum cuote.  

     They have the only Zoo in Ensenada, you will see parrots, monkeys, rabbits, sheep horns, camels, deers, a black bear, a Bengala Tiger and much more.

     They have an amazing playground for children of the different ages, a big bouncing play area, a mini train, an artificial lagoon where you can experience boat paddle, a pool for adults and a kiddie pool, food court (where you can find hot dogs, hamburgers, ice cream, fruit juices, cookies, CHURROS LOCOS, TOSTILOCOS, ACEITUNAS LOCAS ( mexican munchies with a twist! ).  
     The park closes during the winter and is open to the public only Saturdays and Sundays, I really recommend this place for families with kids they will have a blast and you too.
     They have all the services like bathrooms, dressing rooms in the pool areas, medical services and much more.

Ensenada's Beaches

     Enjoy Ensenada's beaches, you can spend a day practicing watersports in the many beaches we have like, Pacifica, Playa Municipal, El Faro Beach, La Joya Beach wich is located at Punta Banda (in your way to La Bufadora) .  

     You can practice kayaking at La Bufadora and snorkeling if you dare, surfing at San Miguel Beach just at the entrance of Ensenada just after the last tollbooth.  

     Fishing in the bay, the services are located at the pier where you can take a boat to ride along the bay or practice you best skills of fishing.

     Just be careful our beaches are not very safe, they are many marine currents, is dangerous even for the most experience swimmer.
     I recommend to only swim at the beach edge, not to go too far.
     The water temperature in the pacific is cold almost most of the year,  during the summer is cool.

     You can have a fun day in the beach, just take your precautions, a lunch box, beverages and sunscreen and you will enjoy a wonderful time practicing whatever watersport you like or just relaxing in the beach.

Ensenada's cruise visitors

     This is the port of Ensenada from one of the many cruises that arrived during the week.  We have visitors from all over the world.

Top Ten places to visit in Ensenada

10.  Kayaking at La Bufadora

  9.  Go hiking and biking to Sierra de Juarez ( Hanson Lagoon )

  8.  Have breakfast during the weekend at Hotel Coral y Marina they have an awesome Mexican and International buffet.

  7.  Dining at Punta Morro Restaurant and in the Bar trying the best Martinis in town .

  6.  Try our Fish Tacos,  you can have them at the pier next to Mercado Negro (Fish Market) also at Juarez avenue they are a couple of fish taco vendors. They are amazing!  later on I will share you the recipe.

  5.  Play Golf at Baja Country Club, they have a very challenging golf course with magnificent views to the San Carlos Mountains and the lakes of the golf course. Is located 7miles south of Ensenada towards La Bufadora. 

  4.  Take a shoot of tequila or one the Mexican beers at Cantina Hussong's, listen to the Mariachi or Norteño Live.  Is located at Calle Ruiz at Ensenada's Downtown.

  3.  Have a Cheese Tasting and Cheese making Tour at La Cava de Don Marcelo at Rancho La Campana in Ojos Negros, take the road to Ojos Negros (San Felipe), passed Ojos Negros at km.57 turn left and follow the signs about 10 minutes to get there from Km. 57.

  2.  Take a tour in the wineries and vineyards at La Ruta del Vino ( Wine Route ) in Valle de Guadalupe, they are wine tastings in almost all the wineries, you can also visit the little shops around you will find, wines, cheeses, organic marmalade, olives, bread, museums, galleries, parks,  restaurants, you will really have fun spending the day in this place.

  1.  Attend at least one of the many parties during the Wine Festival in August called Fiestas de la Vendimia, attend concerts or very famous Mexican and International artist, every party is a different concept, you can listen to jazz in the vineyards, classical music, tango, mariachi, pop music and more, 80' music (my favorite by the way), they are parties to eat, drink and dance, these events take place in a different winery every day. Hope you can join us this 2013.

Valle de Guadalupe vineyards

Ruta del Vino ( Wine Route )

     La Ruta del Vino ( Wine Route ) is located at he North of Baja California, the Guadalupe Valley ( Valle de Guadalupe), San Antonio de las Minas are the main sites of this route, also Santo Tomas Valley, San Vicente and Ojos Negros.

     They are a great variety of Bajacalifornian White Wine made from Sauvignon Blanc, Colombard, Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc grapes.  Also the red wines made from Merlot, Zinfandel, Tempranillo, Grenache, Petit Syrah, Malbec, Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Nebbiolo (one of my favorites), Carignan and Syrah grapes.

     You can find in La Ruta del Vino a variety of restaurants, outdoor restaurants, camping sites, wineries, vineyards, museums, spas, pools to enjoy with the family, hotels, Bed and Breakfast Hotels, wine boutiques, wine tastings, galeries, indigenous culture (Kumiai and Kiliwa the first people in this region) and natural sites.

     You can have a great vacation in La Ruta del Vino, fun for the family, group of friends or couples, it can be very romantic, exotic, adventurous, for your next visit to Ensenada I really recommend to visit La Ruta del Vino and have a wine tasting, visit the wineries and vineyards.

Sierra de Juarez Constitutional National Park

     To get there take the road to Ojos Negros.  Ojos Negros passed 15 kms. then take the dirt road for about 35kms. They are signs to follow all the road.
     La Laguna Hanson (Hanson Lagoon) is a Constitutional National Park since 1857.
     You can rent Log Cabins near the lagoon for an affordable price.  This is a great place for camping too. 
     Is a great place for hiking and mountain biking, you can also enjoy wild animal watching, La Sierra de Juarez has many wild animals, like bighorn sheep, hawks, coyotes, crows, rattlesnakes, little pumas at the mountains don't be afraid of those they are far from the lagoon. 
     They are no restaurants around, so take a luch box with you and plenty of water.  During winter some times snows in this place. 

Marine Life in Ensenada

My suggestions for April

     In April the weather in Ensenada is a very nice cool weather, this is a perfect month to start visiting the different wineries around Ensenada.

     They are many vineyards and wineries that offers wine tastings at an affordable price. Is a great experience if this is the first time you visit Ensenada, the vineyards are located in Valle de Guadalupe and San Antonio de las Minas, they are many good restaurants with breathtaking views of the valley.

   

     

La Bufadora

La Bufadora is a marine geyser or blowhole located on the Punta Banda Peninsula in Baja California, Mexico.

This is a place to visit in Ensenada,  this incredible natural wonder in one of the largest blowholes in North America.

Experience shopping at the entrance of La Bufadora there are many souvenirs stores, restaurants, enjoy the Piña Colada and Mexican Churros is a must.