LA BUENA VIDA EN

BUENA VISTA

"The good life in Buena Vista........."

June 2006

There are many reasons that the calendar says June, but it’s our April newsletter. While we love writing the newsletter and re-visiting good friends and good times, somehow it seems to get pushed to the back burner. Our primary job at Hotel Buena Vista Beach Resort is ensuring quality service and great food together with clean, comfortable, well-equipped boats. And sometimes while we’re doing those things the newsletter gets pushed back. . . and back. In the next month or six weeks we will try to do two newsletters and resume our schedule. In the meantime, please forgive our tardiness.)

April is traditionally the month of Great Beginnings, and this year was no exception! Easter Week saw a full hotel with lots of locals . . . and fishing made the turn-around from winter to spring. It seems that every kind of fish was “on the grab.” Capt. Ken Toy, from Wood Creek, Colo., said he’s never seen so many marlin in one trip.

It was also the beginning of our “inshore” fishery with an excellent pargo bite. Can someone please explain what makes pargo such a strong fighter? We also had an excellent run of tuna as evidenced by the amount of sashimi we prepared and served each cocktail hour. The dorado fishing, however, was just so-so. Oh, well . . .

EVENTS AND THINGS

We hosted the Western Outdoor News Fiesta de Pesca April 8-30 with many, many guests trying to hook a big one. We’re pleased to tell you that two of our visitors, Bob and Justin Gartrell (here in the picture), were among the winners, taking home loads of fishing loot and prizes from sponsors. Congratulations! But the biggest honors went to our friend Flack Maguire with a beautiful 95.3 lbs wahoo. Reed more in the Fish and Adventure story.

Sad News

Our longtime friend and neighbor Don Godbarry, who shared his love of Mexico with friends and family, passed away. On April 22, his children, other members of the family and many Baja neighbors gathered to spread Don’s ashes over his beloved Sea of Cortes. There was sadness, of course, but there was joy in remembering and celebrating the life of Don Godbarry. We offer condolences to his family.

Visitors Near & Far

We were delighted to see Larry Nonmaker, of Larry’s RV in Bend, Ore. Larry began bringing his top sales person to HBVBR many years ago; and that trip morphed into past winners, good friends and colleagues, which he hosts every-other-year. This year’s incentive and reunion trip included 20 people. Wide Open Tours, which travels the same road as the Baja 1000 race, stopped by for a night. The 24 guests began in Ensenada, driving their off-road vehicles to our front gate. After a bit of Swimming, Cerveza and Sleep, they resumed the race. Incidentally, they maintain an off-road track near Cabo if you ever get the urge.

As a change of pace from the off-roaders, we hosted 16 novitiate nuns from a convent in LaPaz for three nights. Richard Cuttler, Newhall, Calif., celebrated his 50^th birthday with many friends, several of whom he had met over the years at the resort. It was indeed a birthday party dinner to remember. We also celebrated the 48th wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Perrin from Yuba City, Calif. May there be many more!

A great big Thank You to some of our returning guests who kicked off the 2006 season in April, including Lynn and Anthony Viavada from El Cajon, Calif. together with friends . . . Brett Chandler, down from Oregon . . . Michael Vignato from Vista, Calif. . . . Glenn Davis, from San Diego, who comes to fish with Felipe several times a year . . .

Ted Flandro and spouse, Pocatello, Idaho, who were fleeing the Rocky Mountain spring chill to fish with Jose . . . Herb Frommholz, Orange, Calif., who stayed with us while visiting neighbor Kathy Brown.

Other visitors included hunting guide Don Brown from Reedley, Calif., together with his fiancé and his son . . . And speaking of guides, Pudge Kleinkof, brought about a dozen saltwater fly-fishing enthusiasts from Alaska including John Weber in search of a striper or two on a flyrod with the help of Baja on the Fly’s guides . . . David Alcorn, of Apple Valley, Calif., who generally visits a few times a year, was down for his spring trip . . . Dave Copeland, and his wife from Houston, was here with his buddy Togo Hazard . . . It was great to see Mark Harrison, of M&M Plumbing from Endicott, Wash., on his yearly trip . . . Rocco Rampino, who always makes reservations through our good friends at Big Game Fishing, was with us in April, too.

We were pleased at the number of East Coasters including Mike Stock, from Snellville, Georgia, Gene Maturo, Hampton, Conn., and Bob Musik from Billerika, Maryland . . .

Mr. and Mrs. Calderwood, Cannon City, Colo. . . . and Mrs. Wendy Wilson from Discover Baja making the final arrangements for the Seventh Annual Neil Kelly Memorial Fishing Tournament, Aug. 10-14.

TAKING IT HOME

We have installed our new Vacuum Packing machine that will significantly eliminate the possibility of freezer burn for the fish you take home. Packing Prices:

.50 per pound of cleaned fish in a standard Zip-Lock bag.

$2.00 per pound for smoked fish in a standard Zip-Lock bag.

$1.75 per pound of cleaned fish vacuum packed.

$3.00 per pound of smoked fish vacuum packed.

You may arrange for either the standard or new vacuum packing in the usual way.

See you in a couple of week!

The Valdez Family

Special Deals and Events You Won't Want to Miss!

JULY 28^th TO AUGUST 1^st

13th ANNUAL SPORTFISHING WITH

DAN HERNANDEZ

EAST CAPE TRIP

Join Dan Hernandez and his TV crew on their 12^th annual East Cape trip. Sponsors prizes and a chance to be part of his famous TV show. Sign up early and get great upgrades.

AUGUST 1st - 5th

6th ANNUAL

BISBEE'S EAST CAPE

OFFSHORE TOURNAMENT

Be a part of Hotel Buena Vista’s Team in the $300,000 cash prices in the East Cape Bisbee’s 6th Annual Tournament. Call for details.

August and September

HOT SUMMER SPECIALS!!!

Stay 3 Nights and get the 4th free! Or Stay 5 Nights and get the 6th and 7th nights free. Book Now and Save Big!

AUGUST 4th - 8th

PENN FISHING UNIVERSITY

Join Professional Angler and educator Steve Carson as he helps participants catch more fish. Call for details.

AUGUST 10th - 14th

DISCOVER BAJA

NEIL KELLY MEMORIAL

FAMILY FISHING TOURNAMENT

Join our good friends from Discover Baja on this fun for all fishing tournament you are guarantee a lot of fun and lots of prices.

click here to book your reservation on line

Did You Know?

Little known tidbits of Hotel Buena Vista's History

Did you know?

The question last issue was about the hosts of two sport fishing television shows that featured Hotel Buena Vista Beach Resort. The answer is Ronnie Kovach and Dan Hernandez.

Ronnie has had a relationship with the Valdez Family for many years. He is both the Founder and the Director of Fishing Expeditions Enterprises and On the Water Fishing Schools, and the host of dozens of other fishing seminars annually. To date, Ronnie has personally taught over 50,000 anglers the finer points of fishing. He is a regular contributor to major popular fishing magazines (over 500 articles published), and he has authored five best-selling books on trout, bass and saltwater fishing. He also is host and executive producer of FVTV and the Fishing Expeditions Radio Show.

Dan’s outdoor writing career started as a field photographer for Sport Afield magazine; then as a staff writer with Western Outdoor News, the weekly Bible for California anglers. After WON, he went on to write for many other outdoor publications, such as Pacific Fisherman and Sport Fishing. In an effort to expand on his successful writing career he moved on to television, first by developing and hosting Fish-On! A cable fishing show that focused on California saltwater fishing. After three years at Fish-On!, Dan went on to produce and host his own television fishing program, Sport Fishing with Dan Hernandez.

Upcoming dates to fish with our favorite TV hosts –

DAN HERNANDEZ

July 28 to 31

October 27 to 30

RONNIE KOVACH

It is going on this weekend at the resort, and it will be planned about the same dates for next year.

Winners of the last Question of the Month were Pat Galasso and Lynn Glidden. Each winner will receive autographed souvenirs from Ronnie and Dan

Contest of the Month!

THIS MONTH’S QUESTION OF THE MONTH: In the early days of the resort, we had a bathroom shower system that was somewhat rustic and definitely unique! Tell us what was unusual about our bathroom showers and what needed to be done to overcome the “problem?”

The winner will receive a free one hour massage treatment.

Send your answer to: info @hotelbuenavista.com

Click Here for April 2006 Fish Total

In the News

This month we are featuring a nice story run on the Fred Hall program issue of Western Outdoor News. It is always helpful to look at this publication early in the year as it could be very helpful on planning your next trip to Baja. It has a lot of information. Click here to read it

Fish Stories & Adventure Stories

FIESTA DE PESCA

This year’s Fish Fiesta – better known locally as the Fiesta de Pesca – was a booming success. If you don’t believe it, better ask Flack Maguire of Carlsbad, Calif., who landed an amazing 95.3-pound wahoo. Kit McNear, who helps run the Fiesta for Western Outdoor News, announced that Maguire took the winning ’hoo from a Hotel Buena Vista Beach Resort cruiser with Capt. Vicente Cosio at the helm of the Dusty B.

The nearly 100-pound fish was caught on a black and purple jig on 50-pound Izorline.

The three-week event – April 8 to 30 – features no entry fee. All an angler needs to do is stay at one of the participating East Cape area resorts. About $20,000 in prizes were up for grabs from Penn, Izorline, Mustad and 7-Strand as well as the participating hotels. In celebration of his monster wahoo, Maguire was presented with a free four day, three night trip by the Valdez family and Hotel Buena Vista Beach Resort with one day’s fishing.

Bob and wife Justine Gartrell fished with Ramon and Teodoro on the 3 Hermanos and qualified for a lot of prizes from the main sponsors with this nice 60 lbs tuna, one of 9 they caught on this day.

Fishing conditions during the three week Fiesta were excellent to good to excellent. “We started out with near-perfect seas early in the month, turned a little sour with some wind and slightly grumpy water in the middle; but things quickly flattened out the final 8 to 10 days,” said Axel Valdez. There was a huge rush of fresh striped marlin with numerous billfish lost and landed by the competitors, added Axel.

The 2007 Fiesta de Pesca will be held in the same time period, with hotel rooms and boats at a premium. “We anticipate extremely high hotel occupancy with many of this year’s participants already on board for ’07,” said Valdez. Advance reservations are now being accepted.

Nuestra Cocina

SOPA AZTECA—TORTILLA SOUP

This delectable variation of an old Mexican favorite comes to you straight from our hotel kitchen. It’s super easy to make, and when you’re feeling homesick for Buena Vista in cold weather, make it. It will warm your heart and your tummy and make you feel a little closer to us here in paradise! Serves eight to ten.

Soup

1 whole chicken

3 quarts water

4 tbsp powdered chicken bouillon

1 tbsp dried oregano

4 bay leaves

Salt and pepper to taste

5 poblano chiles, thinly sliced (you can substitute bell peppers)

8 large, ripe tomatoes, thinly sliced

2 large, white onions, thinly sliced

3 cloves garlic, minced

Garnishes

12 corn tortillas, cut into strips about ½ inch wide

½ cup corn or canola oil

2 avocados cut into chunks

1½ cup Chihuahua or jack cheese, grated

1 cup crema media ácida or sour cream

Fresh cilantro, in sprigs

Cook chicken in water and bouillon for one hour. Remove chicken, debone and cut into chunks. Return to pan, add seasonings and cover.

Place chiles, onion, tomatoes and garlic in large skillet with oil (this may take 2 skillets) and sauté until cooked, about 15 minutes.

About 20 minutes prior to serving, combine the chicken and stock with the vegetables and heat thoroughly.

Deep fry the tortilla strips and drain on paper towels. Divide each among eight to 10 large soup bowls. Fill almost to top with the soup. Then garnish with a few chunks avocado, some grated cheese, a float of crema and a sprig of cilantro. Serve immediately and prepare to gloat. Leftovers are great the next day too.

This recipe (along with all your favorites from the resort) is from Ann Hazard's new book, Cooking With Baja Magic Dos. Available online or at our gift shop, this book offers up the best in Baja cuisine. With 250 recipes, 80 colored illustrations and travel and adventure stories spanning four generations, this is a must-have for everyone who loves Baja!