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LA BUENA VIDA EN BUENA VISTA

      
   

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

     
   

January 2005

 

2005 ended with a bang if you consider a “bang” to be warm sun, flat seas and mid-summer weather at the start of winter!  There were some winds and grumpy waters to be sure, but it seems like whenever we really needed things to flatten out and brighten up, it happened like clockwork.  Like we always say, “Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than smart.”  Luck was definitely with us that early December day when we had a wedding planned.  The few days prior to the wedding the breezes wouldn’t seem to stop, but on Michelle and Lance’s Big Day, with friends packed in, the winds laid down completely and the Sea of Cortez was a like an azure blue and turquoise backdrop to the festivities. 

 

But first, let’s remember November.  There were familiar faces all around.  Nancy and Clare “Papa Loco” Rayner fished for a week with their longtime and only Capt. Felipe and Reggie on the Yanet.  Mr. and Mrs. Fromberg came down Baja Way from their home in Newbury Park, Calif. along with family and friends.  It was something like a Fomberg Fiesta.  Our good old amigo Jerry Ginter from Seattle stored his boat with us over the winter – not really much of a winter – and should be ready to rip some lips in the next month or so.  And on Thanksgiving, our very good and old friend Susana Colyer from Gardnerville, Nev., joined the Togo family for a wonderful dinner.  All-in-all it was a wonderful November.

 

By mid-December, the hotel was practically bursting its seams with about 90% occupancy for Christmas and New Years!  There was the aforementioned Michelle and Lance’s wedding with loads of guests.  The spiritual group Dzogchen Community of eight took advantage of our clear waters and clean air to meditate; while Rudy, Gerda and all the Meschkat family (a total of 12) joined us for fishing and family frolic.  They were joined by their fishing friend Togo for the New Year.  Those are just a few of the visitors (we can’t name everyone) who spent a few days or a week in Our Little Corner of the World.

 

Hotel Buena Vista Beach Resort is like a “second home” to many people and our facilities are treated with much respect.  But things do become worn and used-looking, so we have replaced all the bedding and curtains and are redecorating all the rooms.  Let us know what you think of the new colors.

 

We’ve hardly turned the first page of the ’06 calendar and it’s time to think about a variety of tournaments and events we’ll be hosting.  For complete details, please go to our Event Calendar (click here to see it)  You’ll find plenty to satisfy every budget and interest – here are just a few:

 

  • June 1-5 – Ronnie Kovach’s and Steve Carson’s Fishing Expedition School.  Fish and learn with TV host and professional angler Ronnie Kovach

  • June 8-13 – Jokers are Wild East Cape Catch and Release Fly-Fishing Tournament hosted by Gary Graham of Baja on the Fly fame.

  • July 14-17 – Fifth Annual Los Chinos Catch and Release Tournament.

  • July 20-24 – Texas Lady Anglers Open Fishing Tournament.

  • July 27-31 – Join Dan Hernandez and his TV crew on their 12th annual East Cape trip.  Early sign-up for great upgrades.

  • August 1-5 – Fifth Annual Bisbee’s East Cape Tournament.  Be part of Hotel Buena Vista Beach Resort’s Team in the $300,000 cash prize event.

  • August 4-8 – Penn Fishing University.  Nightly seminars and instruction by Steve Carson, director of the Penn University Series.

  • September 20-24 – Fish Sniffer Magazine Angling Adventure

  • All Year – Be sure to join us for a variety of 30th Anniversary celebrations and activities.  30 years!  Who’d have thought it possible?   

 

We are pleased to announce the acquisition of a new boat!  It is a beautifully outfitted 32-foot Albemarle.  Albemarle’s production facility is located in Edenton, North Carolina, and their testing ground is the open sea off Cape Hatteras, so we know it will take to our Sea of Cortez like a duck takes to water.  She’ll be skippered by Vicente Cosio. 

 

Until next Month

 

 

The Valdez Family

 

 

In the News

 

Mr. Rick Gaffney did a great article a few years back, he came down during our winter and he had a great time. I think this article helps picture what is like most of the time.: click here to read it

 

 

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

 

 JANUARY TO MARCH WE CONTINUE WITH OUR WINTER SPECIAL

 

STAY WITH US FOR 3 NIGHTS, GET THE 4TH FREE!

-or-

STAY WITH US FOR 5 NIGHTS, GET THE 5TH AND 6TH FREE!! 

 

 

 

click here to book your reservation on line

 

 

 

 
Did You Know?

Little known tidbits of Hotel Buena Vista's History

 

Did you know?

 

Last issue’s Question of the Month was regarding an incident with a little boy at one of our early tournaments.  What was the event, who was the little boy and what did he do?

 

The answer:  David and Jim Siegle had put the Big Game Fishing Tournament together already for a few years. But this year during the awards ceremony, Felipe Valdez, who was then 2 or 3-years old, decided it was time to pee.  And he did, right on the stage as they were handing out awards.  Well, like we always say, “When you gotta go, you gotta go.”  The incident was a sensation with everyone laughing until they had to . . . well, you get the idea. 

 

 

Contest of the Month!

 

QUESTION OF THIS MONTH:  Of all our Captains, who is our oldest in years of service?  And how many years has he been with us? 

Email your answers to: info@hotelbuenavista.com There will be a free fishing trip for the first correct answer.

 

Fish Stories & Adventure Stories

 

Swordfish Divides Brothers

 

On January 2, Esaul Valdez suggested that his younger brother Felipe take the “Hakuna,” one of Hotel Buena Vista’s boats, out to catch sierra for the kitchen. Felipe jumped at the chance to get out on the Sea of Cortez and away from his responsibilities of managing the hotel’s fishing fleet. 

 

Long time Captain Ramon Tamayo from Los Barriles, and Felipe headed up toward Punta Pescadero where the sierra had been thick. It didn’t take long to fill up the kill sack with enough toothy sierras to satisfy the guests at the hotel.

 

Both Ramon and Felipe, not eager to return to the hotel and back to work, decided to enjoy the bright sunny, flat calm day and go for a boat ride. Heading out to the north, they went just a few miles when they spotted some commotion on the surface. At a distance, they thought it was a dorado feeding on top. As they got closer, they decided that it might be a shark feeding on small baitfish. Like two school boys ditching class, they decided to have a little fun and toss out a mackerel on a 60-pound casting outfit.

 

The bait no sooner hit the water than it disappeared in the center of the big swirl on the surface. Line spun off the reel faster and faster as the hooky-playing Ramon and Felipe argued about when to set the hook. Finally Felipe threw the reel in gear, waited for the line to come tight and then set the hook with hard swings. A split second later the rod bent double and line flew off the reel as the drag washers on the reel whined in protest.

 

Whatever ate the mackerel down deep was now putting a serious bend in the 60-pound outfit. Felipe never wavered and kept steady pressure on the fish. Deep below the boat as Felipe short pumped the mystery fish toward the surface, it was way more purple than the tell tale gold and turquoise dorado color. As the fish came closer and closer to the top, the mystery was solved as the small swordfish came clearly into view.

 

Two gaffs and a tail-rope later, with the swordfish safely on the swim step, Felipe reached for the microphone on the VHF radio to call Esaul and tell him the news.

You see, big brother Esaul has been trying to catch a swordfish since he had seen his first one finning on the surface many years ago while fishing with his father, Chuy Valdez.

 

So, the family rivalry will continue between the Valdez Brothers with Felipe clearly in the lead in the swordfish department while Esaul contemplates the “would of . . . could of . . . should of” sportfishing.

 

 

Click Here for 2005 Total Fish Count

 

Nuestra Cocina

 

OUR WORLD FAMOUS NACHOS!!

 

 For those who missed our recipe in our famous nachos here it is again, just reading this recipe is guaranteed to give you swim-up bar flashbacks. Yeah...it's about 4:00 in the afternoon and you're perched on an underwater barstool. In front of you is a Pina Colada, Margarita or cold cerveza. Up comes Ricardo with a huge plate of nachos. You and three new best friends all dig in. Heaven on earth...


2-3 cups Tortilla chips
1 can refried beans: heat on stove with
1 tbsp bacon fat and 1 tsp milk
sliced jalapenos ( to taste)
1 cup monterey jack cheese, grated
guacamole: 1 avocado, 1 tbsp canned salsa verde
and garlic salt to taste
pico de gallo: 1 chopped tomato, 1 tbsp chopped cilantro, 1/2 chopped white onion salt and pepper to taste

On Serving platter, place a layer of tortilla chips. Scoop hot refired beans over chips. Put on as many sliced jalapenos as your palate can handle. Sprinkle cheese over everything. Nuke for one minute. Top with guacamole and pico de gallo. Ay, yay yay!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      
         
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