“Summertime, and the livin’ is easy, fish are jumpin’ and the cotton is high,” as the song goes.  It is summertime in Mexicali, and it is hot with temperatures from 105F to 112F-maybe even higher.

Our neighbor has taken his entire family, three kids, grandma and grandpa to the cool city of Rosarito Beach, Baja California, on the Pacific coast.  It is the Mexicali tradition, that families visit Rosarito Beach and Ensenada, during the hot summer months. The weather in Rosarito Beach is wonderful, like San Diego or Los Angeles. The good life!

Our neighbor’s maid is taking care of his home.

We have chosen our version of a summer holiday.  That is to tough it out and enjoy what Mexico has to offer in the way of beer, or cerveza in Spanish—but we do plan a trip to Ensenada (more about in my next post).

The Fiesta Room was presenting Beer Tasting Nite, La noche de Cerveza, and all three of us, me, Jim, and Matthew decided to join in the fun. We were off to sampling the finest beers that Mexico has to offer.

When one thinks of Mexican beer, the first name that comes to one’s mind is Corona. However, in Mexico, Tecate is the most popular brand—but maybe not the best.

The majority of Mexican beers are produced by the two big breweries:

1. FEMSA (which produces Tecate, Sol, Dos Equis, Carta Blanca, Superior, Indio, Bohemia and Noche Buena) and
2. Grupo Modelo (producing Corona, Corona Light, Negra Modelo, Modelo Especial, Modelo Light, and Pacifico).  Negra Modelo-and what makes Negra Modelo different from other Mexican beers?  In Mexico, this beer is called “La Crema de la Cerveza” (the elite of beers). It’s a dark, Munich-style beer.

And then there is the very special beer called Noche Buena. This beer is only released at the end of the year for the Mexican celebration of “La Noche Buena” or “Christmas Eve.” Noche Buena has a dark brown color with a small white foamy head, a slightly malty aroma, and rich caramel and toast flavors. It’s normally sold as a 12-pack, and costing around $8.00—a bargain!

The taste of these dark beers is simply delicious!  You can buy Bohemia, Indio and Negra Modelo, at Wal-Mart here in Mexicali, along with Tecate, Corona, and Pacifico.

Mexicali’s well-known beer is Cucapá. The brewer, Cerveceria de Baja California, was set up in 2002, and is located in the Mexicali, and is one of a handful of Mexican microbrews. They brew Mexicali’s very own Cucapá Beer. This name comes from one of the five Indian tribes that live in the Mexicali Valley.

Cucapá comes in various flavors:

There is Cucapá Clasica , blonde ale, taste of malt and sweet citrus;
Cucapá Obscura an American brown ale with a taste of sweet toffee, roasted nuts and brown sugar aromas;
Cucapá Chupacabras, a pale copper-colored ale with rich creamy dark caramel, dark chocolate and roasted nuts, and citrus marmalade;
Cucapá Triguen’a, a wheat ale with a clear golden color;
Cucapá Honey, an amber colored ale, with rich aromas of caramel, roasted grains, and citrusy aromas;
Cucapá Barleywine, which has a dark reddish mahogany color, with aromas of roasted malt and dark caramel.
Cucapá beer brewers even make seasonal beers such as Cucapá Jefe, which is an Hefeweizen (a wheat beer), made with wheat and barely malt and with a bright peach color.

Here’s the Cucapá website -  www.cucapa.com.

While taking sips of the various brands of beer, I found that I loved the tastes of Cucapá Classic, Negra Modelo, Bohemia  and Noche Buena. All these beers are so tasty and easy to drink. All very smooth and they quench your thirst immediately.

If you like beers with a bit of a bite, try Pacifico. It’s from the Mexican state of Sinaloa.

It was a wonderful evening for the three of us—especially Matthew.

We got to try the beer along with Enchiladas Chipotle—enchiladas stuffed with chicken, cooked with garlic, onions, sharp cheddar cheese, smothered on top with cheese, onions and fresh out of the oven.

We drove home, very carefully to our air-conditioned casa. It wasn’t until Jim and I were inside that we noticed that Matthew was missing—he was sound asleep in the truck.

The good life!

We are Americans and have been living in the border town of Mexicali, the capital of Baja California since 2008. As far as we are concerned, Mexicali is a very peaceful city.

We chose Mexicali because it is next door to the US town of Calexico. It works for us, as we cross the border sometimes twice a month, to check our mail, do our shopping and eat at Denny’s, Golden Corral Restaurant, or Sizzler’s in El Centro.  There is also Imperial Valley Mall just outside of El Centro. There, we get food for our pets and other items. There are all the big box stores in this mall.

Mexicali has a population of over one million. It is a wide-spread city with low-rise buildings. In our earlier postings, we have driven to San Felipe, down to the wine valley, where you can find Mexico’s best wines! We have eaten at a great seafood restaurant in Ensenada, and driven up to Tecate as well, and made more than one trip to Los Algodones.

Mexicali is what we call the city of Healthcare Nirvana! I had my successful Tarlov cyst operation here in Mexicali for a fraction of the price that the US healthcare would charge me. Very soon, Mexicali will be in the process of building a major medical center as the plans are already drawn up

When we decided to live in Mexicali, we selected a great area, just 165 feet from the US border. It’s great for us!

Even though we are safe and secure in Mexicali, the US State Department has listed several Mexican cities not to visit.

These are Ciudad Juarez which is the border town to El Paso, Texas, Tijuana, the border town to San Diego, Nogales, the border town to Nogales, Arizona, Nuevo Laredo, near the city of Laredo Texas.

You do not want to visit the border town of Ciudad Juarez, across the border from El Paso, Texas.

At the moment, drug cartels are fighting for this route of entry into Texas. Jim and I have always said, so long as America has a demand for drugs, Mexican drug cartels are there to supply them—it’s a multibillion dollar business-on both sides of the border.

If you are not into the drug business, then you are fine.

There are over 1.2 million American and Canadian citizens living peaceful lives in Mexico.

Good places to visit are Cancun, the Riviera Maya, Cozumel, Mérida and the Mayan ruins in Yucatan, San Miguel de Allende (which is crawling with Americans) and the colonial cities of Guanajuato, Queretaro, Zacatecas.

Guadalajara is a very large city and growing larger by the minute. Stick to the central city tourist areas and the leafy upscale neighborhoods like the Zona Rosa.

A popular side-trip is past fields of blue agave to the town of Tequila, where tequila distilleries can be visited and the wares sampled from such famous brands as Cuervo and Herradura.

The Oaxaca coast is great, including beautiful, well-developed Huatulco, and the little surfing mecca of Puerto Escondido (a great place).

Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo and the resorts that stretch between them are like a backyard for residents of the southwestern U.S. Thousands of Americans live there.

Mexico City, which is reputed to be dangerous, has a homicide rate of only nine for every 100,000 people, while Washington D.C. had a rate of more than 30 per 100,000-over three times higher.

Still, visitors to Mexico City should exercise the same precautions taken in any of the world’s big cities; sticking to busy, central areas and remaining aware of one’s surroundings. It’s very important to take only radio-issued taxis or taxis from official stands, and never the “libre” (independent) or Volkswagen cabs.

Don’t walk at night except short distances on busy streets. Mexico City is full of museums, art galleries and super restaurants. Most people include a visit nearby to the ruins of Teotihuacan, which are perfectly safe, with a visitor center and organized guides.

But back to Mexicali where we have never seen or experienced any violence in two and a half years of living here.

As far as we are concerned, we are very happy to live in Mexicali on our social security. We have discovered great restaurants to eat, and luckier—Mexican friends in Mexicali!

No sooner did I finish my last blog on my Tarlov cyst recovery than we got hit with another big earthquake – 5.7 on the Richter scale!The whole house was shaking. Jim made me stand in the doorway, while he held up the rack that contains the computer equipment

Matthew came running, screaming into the computer room and dived under the table.

This was a long one—first violent shaking, and then the usual swaying back and forth of the whole house and the earth beneath it.

The USGS gave out the terse message—Monday, June 14, 2010 09:26:58 PM at epicenter. Depth: 6.90 km (4.29 mi)—43 km (27 miles) W (277°) from Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico.

“Matthew,” said Jim, “it’s OK—you can come on out.”

Matthew crawled out from under the table, and, without saying a word, ran to his bedroom.

I’ve gotta tell you, we feel earthquakes every day, and more than once per day. Sometimes, it’s just a slight moving of our place back and forth, up to a foot each way. This one, however, was a big one. Orginally, it was reported as a 5.9, but was quickly downgraded to a 5.7. They always downgrade these earthquakes. Maybe it’s like the cable news, they do it just to keep everybody happy, or at least not so scared.

We went two years here with no earthquakes at all. One of our Mexican friends who has been here since 1945 says he has never felt anything like it.

After studying the earthquake patterns, Jim has given up his theory that a Baby Moon is going to split out of the earth carrying me, him, and Matthew into outer space. Jim is now convinced that Baja California is splitting off from the mainland, and that the earth will sink and that the area about 20 miles west of us will fill up with water.

Matthew came back to the computer room, as we were discussing Jim’s latest theory.

Matthew liked the idea, and said, “Will there be a beach that we can go to, Jim?”

“If we live long enough,” replied Jim.

“If we live through this at all!” I added.

Jesse called us on the phone a couple of days ago and said they were concerned about us, and also had BIG NEWS to tell us. Jesse also said he and his family had decided to visit us here in Mexicali for Memorial Day.

Saturday morning, Jesse and family pulled up in front of our casa in their SUV, dragging a trailer with all their belongings.

Maude poured herself out of the front seat holding a big box of wine, and our two grandsons, Wilbur and Orville, now tall big strapping young teens, got out to greet us.

“Well, long time no see!” said Jim.

“Hya Dad, Mom!” said Jesse, “it’s great to see you!”

Maude then gave Jim and me hugs, and handing us the box of wine said, “Here’s a box of wine, guys – its Gambino’s Red Cinnamon Orange Wine – it’s a California wine.”

“Hey, that wine really sounds good,” said Jim, “C’mon in, you guys must be tired.”

Going inside, Wilbur said, “Hi Grandpa, Grandma, and Uncle Matthew. Dad said we’re big enough to join the football team soon! Ain’t that great news!”

“Yeah,” joined in Orville.

“Why, yes it is,” I said.

Everyone just crashed down on our living room sofa as I stepped into the kitchen and got some snacks – Hostess Twinkies, M&Ms, Nachos, Oreo Cookies, Planters Peanuts and Fritos Mini Bean Dip, and salt and vinegar pork rinds.

“Geez,” said Orville digging in, “all our favorite stuff.”

“Yeah,” I said, “and I got pork roast and baked potatoes in the oven.”

“Gonna boil some corn?” asked Wilbur.

“Whadaya think’s in that big pot on the stove,” said Jim.

“What’s with the trailer and stuff on top of your car?” I asked.

“Well, Mom, that’s the big news! We’re movin’ to Truth or Consequences,” said Jessie.

“Truth or Consequences?” asked Jim.

“Yeah, Dad, Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, a small place just 120 miles from the Mexican border,” answered Jesse.

“Well, you could do that close to us in California, somewheres like Calexico,” I said.

“Can’t afford to stay in California! The place is getting way too expensive,” said Jesse, wiping his forehead. The sweat was just running down his shirt.

“Thought we would crash here over Memorial Day, if that’s OK with you guys,” said Jesse.

“Sure! we’ve got plenty of room here!” said Jim

Maude was quiet as usual – she’s real nice like an old-style woman. Matthew was keeping quiet too, except for the cracking sound of the pig rind he was stuffing into his face.

“Looks like you guys are having it real good here in Mexicali,” said Jesse.

“Yes we are, the place is great for us, and we’ve made some real nice friends here – this is our home now,” I said.

Jim picked up the box of wine, “Mind if I try some, Jesse?”

“Dad, we brought it for you guys,” answered Jesse.

Jim got a glass from the kitchen and returned to the big living room sofa. He picked up the box and read the label.
“Hey, this here Gambino’s Red Cinnamon Orange Wine is a pretty classy wine – says ‘varietal’ on the box, and that means it’s a top wine – varietal is some kinda certificate thing,” said Jim pouring a glass.

“Gramps, you sure know a lot about wine and stuff,” said Orville.

“Yeah,” added Wilbur.

Jim took a deep drink and started coughing, “CHRIST that stuff is strong!”

“Glad you like it, Dad,” said Jesse.

“OK,” said Jim gathering himself, “no just how are you guys going to support yourselves in Truth and Consequences, New Mexico.”

“It’s Truth or Consequences, Jim,” I said, “named for that radio guy, I think.”

“OK, whatever,” said Jim, finishing his glass of Gambino’s and pouring another.

“Yes, that radio fellow was John Edwards,” I said.

“No, John Edwards was the guy with the hair – that  politician guy who was sleeping around – it was Ralph Edwards,” said Jim.

“The porn guy,” giggled Orville.

“I don’t feel well,” interrupted Matthew, his mouth still full of pork rind.

“Well you just been stuffin your face with that fried pork fat – no wonder,” I said.

Matthew got up and headed for the bathroom.

“Thazz your Unc…Unca’ Matthew for you,” said Jim, and we all had a good laugh.

“You OK, Jim?” I asked.

“I’m OK,” answered Jim, who was slurring his words.

“Yeah, I can tell,” I said.

Turning to Jesse, I asked, “So what are you guys gonna do in Truth or Consequences to make a living.”

“It’s a small place, Mom, only about 7,000 people, but it has a couple of restaurants where Maude could work, and the high school has a football team for Orville and Wilbur. Maybe I could do some coaching work at the same high school.”

“Well, maybe with some luck,” I said.

“Think so, Dad?” asked Jesse.

Jim was asleep and snoring on the sofa.

Let’s hope he wakes up in time for Memorial Day,” I said.

“Yeah,” said Orville and Wilbur, together.

More than 6000 earthquakes hit Mexicali in April.

This includes 702 earthquakes of three to four degrees on the Richter scale, and 72 of between four and five, and 9 large earthquakes between five and six on the Richter scale.

This is more than a month after the 7.2 earthquake killed at least four people, injured 223, and damaged at least 2,500 local homes.

Four new earthquakes, one of which reached 4.6 degrees on the Richter scale, centered south of Mexicali hit us early this morning..

People living to the south of Mexicali on the road to San Felipe are afraid that their damaged houses could collapse completely. Many of them are sleeping in their cars and tents. More than 25,000 people are now living in shelters.  You won’t read that in the U.S. news.

Jim wanted to drive down to the earthquake area to take a look, but Matthew and I said “No!”  Jim should have better sense with all his talk about the birth of a “Baby Moon,” and our being blasted out into space.

Meanwhile it is the Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for “fifth of May”). Most Americans think this is Mexico’s Independence Day, but it isn’t. It celebrates the underdog Mexican army’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

The Cinco de Mayo is no big deal in Mexico, but, somehow, it is in the U.S.

So what did we do for the Cinco de Mayo?

Matthew, Jim, and I sat around the house just waiting for the next earthquake.

This is the true story of two young men in their mid-twenties, who decided to cross into the border town of Calexico, from Mexicali – it happened only a couple of days ago.

We’ll just call the young men Alfonso and Roberto (Bob for short). Like a lot of the young people in Mexicali, both Alfonso and Bob speak English very well.

Alfonso wanted to cross the border to buy a pair of sneakers, and go to IN-N-OUT Burger in El Centro, only about 12 miles across the border from Mexicali.

Bob said, “Sure! That’s a great idea. We’ll take your car as it’s all gassed up and I’ll drive.”

“No problem dude!” said Alfonso.

Knowing Alfonso was big on smoking marijuana or “weed” as they like to call it, Bob said, “Make sure you don’t bring any weed crossing the border. OK?”

“Hey, you think I don’t know? Sure, no weed!” sighed Alfonso.

The two young men got into Alfonso’s car and headed out for the border crossing into Calexico in the mid-afternoon. They waited in line for an hour and a half before coming close to the Border Patrol check point. That day, the line of vehicles crossing into Calexico was long and congested.

The young men waited patiently. Alfonso seemed agitated, and from his jean’s pocket, he removed a marijuana pipe wrapped in a plastic bag.

“What are you doing?” yelled Bob, “I thought you told me you were not gonna bring weed. man? You are gonna get all of us into trouble!”

“Hey, just relax, it’s just a tiny bit of weed stuffed into my pipe, and it’s wrapped in plastic, Dude. I’m not bringing in tons of marijuana. We’re just gonna sit and wait in line. Chill Dude. It’s just the Border Patrol guys, they can’t find it” said Alfonso with a confident look.

“Here, I’m gonna put the pipe with the weed into my side pocket, deep in!” said Alfonso.

As their car crawled up to the US check point, a Border Patrol agent approached their car – he was walking with his sniffer dog, checking each vehicle.

“Oh shit! There’s the dog, we’re in trouble,” called out Bob, “See I told you not to bring weed in!”

As Bob was scolding his friend, the sniffer dog and his handler approached their car. “Light up a cigarette dude!” cried Alfonso.

“Wha? No way man, I just smoke a cigarette now? That’s too obvious!” said Bob angrily.

The sniffer dog and the Border Patrol agent passed their car and walked right by.

Bob and Alfonso heaved a sigh of relief. The dog had not smelled anything. Alfonso looked at Bob and smiled – a smile which Bob did not return.

All of a sudden, in the rear-view mirror, Bob saw the sniffer dog stop right in its tracks! The dog pulled on the leash, and started to lead the Border Patrol agent back to their car!

The two men sat frozen in their car – Bob at the wheel, and Alfonso in the passenger’s seat.

The dog stood up putting its paws right on the closed window next to Alfonso. The Border Patrol agent motioned to Alfonso to open the door.

Alfonso complied.

Immediately, the dog  jumped into the car, on top of Alfonso and put its snout right on Alfonso’s pocket – exactly where the plastic-enclosed pipe was.

Alfonso sat, not moving or blinking, terrified at what the sniffer dog could possibly do.

“Both of you get out of the car, now!” yelled the Border Patrol agent.

Alfonso and Bob got out quickly.

“Place your hands on top of the car, and spread your legs, now!” yelled the Border Patrol agent. “And don’t move!”

The sniffer dog was all excited and started sniffing the car, the back seat, the front seat excitedly. It looked happy, as the agent gave it a treat.

“You get your keys and pop the hood and the trunk and then get back into position, with you hands on the vehicle” said the agent. Three other burly Border Patrol agents arrived at the car as backup.

The other vehicles hummed silently and the people watched with anticipation.

The sniffer dog returned to Alfonso, and jumped excitedly and barked.

“Remove all the stuff from your jeans!” yelled the Border Patrol Agent to the two terrified young men.

Alfonso sheepishly dug out his pipe which was stuffed with weed and wrapped in plastic, and placed it on top of the car, with his wallet.

Now, the car was surrounded by four Border Patrol agents. The people waiting in their cars must have feared that a shoot-out was about to happen. Fortunately, Mexicali is not like other Mexican border towns.

“Here’s the weed, stuffed inside the pipe, sir!” said the Border Patrol agent to a senior officer.

“A pipe? That’s drug paraphernalia,” said the senior officer, “Put the evidence into the trunk. You two, get back into the car, get back in line, and wait your turn at the agent post.”

Both the young men got back into their car, and waited in line.  When they reached the border check point, the agent wanted to see their papers.  Both men showed their papers, which included visas to enter the U.S.

The agent checked over the documents and said, “OK, proceed to the secondary inspection area!”

At the border crossings there is a dreaded Secondary Inspection Area – where they go over suspected vehicles and people very carefully.

We know one woman who was hand-cuffed in the Secondary Inspection Area, with the handcuffs being attached to a hook on the wall. Her feet barely touched the ground. She was on an innocent shopping trip to Calexico, but her car had Tijuana plates, which may have been the problem.

Bob drove the car into a separate lane leading to the dreaded Secondary Inspection Area where both men got out of the car. They were immediately handcuffed by the US Border Patrol agents. All of their belongings were removed and placed in plastic bags, including their cell phones.

Handcuffed, both men were lead to separate holding cells, where they were locked up.

After waiting for a couple of hours, Bob was released from his cell. He asked whether he could call his family. There was no answer, but he was asked to sit down on a bench and fill out a form.

Bob was now feeling a bit better – until the agent cuffed his ankles to the bench.

“Officer, am I in trouble here – is this a misdemeanor or a felony?” asked Bob.

The agent responded, “You’re free to go; you were not caught with any drugs or drug paraphernalia. We checked you thoroughly. No needles no drugs. You’re free to go!”

Bob was relieved and exhilarated that he wasn’t going into any prison, but he worried about Alfonso.

“Officer, what about my friend? What will happen to him?” asked Bob.

The agent answered, “Who knows how long he’s gonna be locked up? He was found with marijuana and an unlawful pipe on his person.

“We have documented in the papers that, on American soil, the weed and pipe was found in the trunk of the car. Everything has been searched, just let his family know where he is, and he will be released soon. Lucky for you boys that the weed was a tiny amount.  If we had found more, the both of you would have been charged and the penalty for crossing the US border with weed would have been severe. Good Luck man! You’re free to go.” said the Border Patrol agent.

In the early morning, Alfonso was released. He collected all of his belongings and called Bob. “Hey, I’m out Dude. Can you come get me Bob? What did you tell my parents?”

“I told your mom that you had an argument with your girlfriend, I didn’t want to freak her out and get her upset. I’ll come get you now” said a relieved Bob.

Bob was lucky; no charges were filed against him. Alfonso was not so lucky. His visa to enter the U.S. was canceled, and he would have to go to US Consulate in Tijuana to get a new visa, which would probably be denied. No more IN-N-OUT Burger for Alfonso – at least not for a long time.

When Bob told us his story, Matthew said “Bob, I wouldn’t want to cross the border with you!”

“What do ya mean?” asked a baffled-looking Jim.

“Well, some of the smell of marijuana must be on Bob.” said Matthew.

“That’s crazy,” said Jim.

“Not so crazy,” said Bob, “They stopped one of my friends, brushed and brushed the carpet on his car until they came up with quite a bit of weed.”

“What happened?” asked Matthew.

“The guy is in prison, and he doesn’t even know how the weed got into the carpet of his car.”

“Ya just don’t mess with them Border guys. We’ve seen those there dogs MaryAnn, they are really good at smelling out the dope,” said Jim shaking his head.

“Well I’m glad nothing happened to you and your friend – it will be a learning experience for you guys,” I said.

Bob got up to leave, shook hands with Jim and gave me a hug. He turned to shake hands with Matthew.

“No way,” said Matthew backing away, “God knows what you have on your hands.”

Eight long days have passed since the Great Mexicali Earthquake of 2010. Eight long days and perhaps 800 aftershocks ranging from 5+ on the Richter Scale on down.

Every few hours an aftershock – when will it all end?

Friends from as far away as San Diego and Phoenix have felt Mexicali’s aftershocks, and have called to ask how are we doing.

We are doing just fine. However, it has been a whale of a lot of work getting our house back in shape. Luckily there was no structural damage that we are aware of, but what a mess, inside!

Not everyone got off so easy, however. A total of 5,000 families in and around Mexicali lost their homes due to the earthquake.

“We need help in getting hold of tents, because many of these people are going to live in emergency shelters for several weeks while we build new homes for more than 5,000 families in need,” Baja California Governor Jose Guadalupe Osuna Millan said, adding that he had already begun receiving help.

Osuna pointed out that Sunday’s quake was the worst on record in Baja California. The last strong quake was 1940’s magnitude 7. 1.

Tents have taken over the parking lot of the Iglesia Apostolica de la Fe en Cristo Jesus, a church in Mexicali, since Sunday, when the earthquake struck.

“We saw the mountains shaking and dust rose as if somebody was moving them,” said Arturo Macias, pastor of the church who has been trying to calm fears among worshipers since the earthquake. Many of his flock consider the earthquake to be a warning from Jesus.

All 300 patients were evacuated from the Mexicali General Hospital because damage to the building, which was also without electricity and water. Some patients were taken to private clinics but others had to be placed in tents.

The parking garage at Mexicali’s City Hall collapsed but no one was injured. A miracle!

Still, scientists agree that, in contrast to Haiti, where a lesser 7.0 magnitude earthquake caused thousands of deaths, Mexicali was spared the worst, in part by better construction standards.

This is stuff you don’t see on the U.S. news. One of our kind readers sent us a link to a set of photos that show just how bad it is for the poor folks who have lost their homes.

Folks on both sides of the border are still checking out the damage and trying to repair shattered nerves.

Caltech and the U.S. Geological Survey, called the aftershocks “robust.” Well, who didn’t know that?

And guess what? Those Caltech guys say they have no idea of how to predict an earthquake!

A 4.5 earthquake hit early Saturday morning around where the 7.2 hit and woke up people in San Diego, Palm Springs and southern Orange County.

On Sunday, four quakes measuring above magnitude 4.0 struck in a three-hour period, doing little physical damage but adding to the emotional toll of the never-ending quakes.

Living in Mexicali is like living on a boat.

Across the border, in Calexico, public schools are closed until they get some plan for the 800 students from Jefferson Elementary School, which is considered too badly damaged for use. Two Catholic schools in Calexico will be closed for two days.

The grand old De Anza hotel, once a playground for the Hollywood stars, was so damaged that it may have to be torn down. The hotel now serves as a residence for old folks, all of whom have been moved out.

Caltech says the Mexicali earthquake adds to the unusual number of strong shakes reported around the world this year, particularly in Haiti and Chile.

“Shucks,” said Jim, “all these aftershocks really begin to get to you.”

“What’s an aftershock?” asked Matthew.

“It’s another earthquake,” I answered.

“Another earthquake? When will it ever end?” asked Matthew.

“No way of knowing – even them Caltech genius guys ain’t gotta clue.”

“Jim, what do you think is going to happen?” asked Matthew.

“One of three things, as I see it.”

“C’mon Jim, you’re just gonna frighten us,” I said.

Jim continued, “Either they stop…”

“Yes,” nodded Matthew.

“Or the earth splits a bit, and the Sea of Cortez comes right on up to Mexicali.”

“Water?” said Matthew.

“Yeah, we could wind up livin on the beach – or on the bottom of the sea,” said Jim calmly.

“Oh my God,” yelled Matthew, “That’s the worst thing anyone could imagine.”

“Well, not quite,” said Jim, with a slight smile.

Now, I was getting interested, so I asked, “Yeah, just what would be worse.”

Jim sat down in his easy chair, and smiled. “Fission – I read about it in this here Christian book, Astronomy and the Bible – it explains that all science is already in the Bible – gives examples, too.”

“Fission?” said Matthew.

“Yeah, fission theory says that the moon split off from the earth like mud thrown off of a truck’s tire and left a huge hole in the earth.”

“A huge hole? What huge hole?” I asked.

“The Pacific Ocean,” answered Jim calmly.

That’s what I so much admire about Jim – he just seems to know everything.

“Yeah,” answered Jim, “and just maybe that’s what happening with all these darn earthquakes – maybe we are gonna split open and throw off a new baby moon.”

“Oh, that’s nuts,” I said, scared out of my mind.

“And what would happen to us?” asked Matthew.

Jim thought a bit, and then answered, “Guess we would be livin somewheres out there in outer space on a new moon.”

It was Easter Sunday April 5, 2010. Jim and Matthew had just left to go to Home Depot at 3.30pm.

I was alone in our bedroom reading a book when the light in the bathroom went out. After several seconds, all of a sudden, the ground began to shake. I checked our little bedside clock – it was 3.40pm.

There was a low rumble, and then floor started to shake. Quickly, I bounced out of bed as the shaking of the floor increased and stood in the doorway to the bathroom – just like Jim had told me to do. I stood, with both my arms holding onto the walls. The entire house was now shaking, vibrating, and trembling at such an angry rate that things began to fall off the shelves.

It was just like someone had grabbed whole of our bedroom and shook it up and down, sideways, and tilting it all over the place!

I was terrified! I thought of my husband, Jim, and Matthew, and our kids. I looked at the ceiling and I thought will it collapse?

I started to say the Lord’s Prayer,

Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever.
Amen.

I heard the lady next door howl out as I heard the sound of heavy items falling down in our house. Like me, she must have thought the house was going to collapse.

After a good ten minutes give and take, the shaking started to subside. And then the aftershocks started.

I heard the front door open. It was Jim, shouting out my name. Jim stood under the doorway to our bedroom, and calmly said, “Maryann, come over here now.” I put on my slippers and walked quickly towards him. We held hands and walked out of our house by the front gate and jumped into our truck which was parked outside. The garage door was not working because there was no electricity.

“Oh, thank God, you came back so quickly!” I cried.

“Yes Hon’, said Jim, “The earthquake struck just we were driving and turning the corner. The truck began to swerve around. I thought it was a flat tire, so I pulled over, and turned off the engine. Well, no sooner had I done that than the truck starts bouncin up and down. I joked to Matthew, that our truck was acting like a darn Toyota.”

Jim turned, and looked back to Matthew, “Didn’t I say that Matthew?”

Matthew didn’t respond – he looked like he was frozen, and was as pale as a ghost.

Jim continued, “So, I got out to look! No flat tire, but the road was really shakin, and the truck was still bouncin – right Matthew?”

No sound came from Matthew.

“Shucks,” said Jim, I knew it was an earthquake so we came right back home – swervin and bouncin all the way – “Right, Matthew?”

Matthew now was covering his eyes with both hands.

At this point, Matthew and I were too stunned to talk.

The earthquake had stopped, and Jim just drove around the streets to see what had happened.

When we hit Justo Sierra, the fancy shopping street. The people were all standing outside – even at La Farmacia la Mas Barata, all the pharmacists were standing outside.
We continued to drive. All the traffic lights were out – there were no lights, anywhere. The lights in the stores and restaurants were off, and people were standing calmly in the street.

Just as we passed a large building, we saw a huge piece of wood and plaster fall off from the front of the building to the sidewalk. Luckily, no one was there.

Many of the large display windows were broken in the banks, the fancy shops, and furniture stores. Broken glass was all over the place.

Here it was – Easter Sunday, and there was an eerie silence all over town! I noticed that the normally daring Mexicali drivers had become very subdued and polite, and stopped at the traffic lights, even though the lights weren’t working. Vehicles passed each other with uncommon and silent courtesy.

I said to Jim and Matthew, “Let’s get some ice cream! I really could use a sugar fix right now!” Jim pulled over at an OXXO store; hopped out and went to door of the store. No ice cream – the employees had locked themselves in, and we could see fear in their eyes! After all, it was Easter Sunday, a holy day in Mexico’s Roman Catholics. I asked Jim, “What do you think people are thinking since this is a Holy Day!”

“God’s will…” said Jim. I turned to look at Matthew. He was silent, his eyes were closed, and he was praying – first time I had seen him pray.

We passed the Pemex gas station and it was closed. Jim turned around, and we headed back. When we stopped at our house, we saw that the neighbor across the street was selling capirotada – a special bread pudding for Lent. Capirotada is made of toasted bread soaked in syrup, sugar, cheese, raisins, and walnuts – it is spiced with cinnamon, and nutmeg, but no custard.

These are native ingredients, and are the recipe dates from the 1600s.

Capirotada is viewed by many Mexicans as a symbol of the suffering of Christ on Good Friday.

“Here’s just what we all need!” I said, getting out of the truck.

The lady, Lulu, selling the capirotada in front of her house, spoke perfect English, as did her brother, Mario. He had just been on his cell phone to San Diego. After hellos, Mario said, “This is the biggest earthquake Mexicali I have ever felt. Our friends up in San Diego even felt it!”

We bought three capirotadas from Lulu at only $3.00 each (each one must be a thousand calories). Handing us the capirotadas, Lulu said, “Listen, if you all need anything, water or anything, just come over.”

“The problem is the electricity. We are now waiting to see how fast the government is going to get it fixed,” said Mario.

“Let’s hope soon,” said Jim, and added, “Nice folks,” as we crossed the street back to our house.

Like most of the people in Mexicali, none of our neighbors seemed worried or upset.

Matthew was still in the back seat of the truck – staring out the window.

“Hey, Matthew,” I said, “I’ve got something pretty good for you.”

“Yes,” said Matthew, turning slowly in my direction.

“It’s a delicious sweet – special for Lent – called capirotada; you will love it,” I said.

Matthew snapped out of his funk and smiled from ear to ear, got out of the truck, and asked, “Which one’s for me?”

Back home, we were happy to find no real damage, just items that fell off the shelves – and our rack with all the computer stuff on it fallen against our work table.

“I’ll just set it all up, again,” said Jim. He’s really great that way! Hardly ever loses his cool.

The three of us sat down and ate our capirodadas, enjoying every bite of it. The sugar fix made us all think clearly. Matthew started giggling over the slightest things.

I searched for my box of emergency candles, and began lighting them. Darkness was coming.

By candlelight, we cooked up some pasta with some left-over meat sauce. Dinner was good. Must have been the candlelight! From outside, we heard great Mexican music coming from Mario’s car stereo.

There were still aftershocks, and there still are!

Exhausted, we finally went to sleep; I woke up after a strong aftershock swayed our bedroom. “Jim, wake up! Did you feel the aftershock?”

“Huh…yes, I’m here, zzzzzzzzz.” Jim went back to sleep.

The next day, Monday, April 6, 2010, the electricity came back on in the morning.

When the TV came on we learned that the  Mexicali earthquake was 7.2 on the Richter scale and that the epicenter was just 36 miles from our house at Guadalupe Victoria in Mexicali Valley. We found out later that Mexicali had suffered some serious damage on its roads and it was reported that six houses burned and a three story parking lot under construction collapsed and power was suspended city-wide until this morning.

The Governor, Jose Guadalupe Osuna Millan, has declared a State of Emergency for all of Baja California.

Jim even managed to get the trash out for the Monday pickup.

We are fine, just tired and a little shaken up. Our dog, Rex, and our two cats, Moss and Twiggy are all OK as well.

After all the excitement, we just relaxed watched TV, and the Tiger Woods interview.

Just another day in Mexicali.

We have been crossing the Mexicali- Calexico border regularly, since we re-located to Mexicali in 2008.  The normal waiting time to cross from Mexicali to Calexico is 1 ½ hours, or more.

The waiting time for coming back to Mexicali from Calexico has always just taken a matter of minutes – now it can take hours.

Now that has all changed.

At first all we noticed was that Mexico has spent a lot of money to upgrade its border entry, giving it a brand new high tech look, with wide lanes, and big impressive signs for vehicles entering into Mexicali.

“Guess the Mexicans are taking revenge on the U.S. for all the delays our guys cause,” said Jim.

Later we learned that this had nothing to do with revenge, but is part of a new federal program started by the Mexican Government known as SIAVE, to search for illegal weapons from crossing into Mexico from the U.S.  You can’t bring guns or ammo into Mexico – before there were just warning signs – now there is an inspection.

The new surveillance program takes eight seconds to inspect each car, making, for the first time, long lines to cross into Mexico. The wait has been as long as three hours on the U.S. side of the border.

This has backed up traffic on Calexico’s main street, Imperial Ave., and caused a lot of problems for the businesses on the road.

The vendors and shops on Imperial Avenue are beginning to find business tough. All of their entrances have been taped off by the Calexico police, to keep people from breaking into the waiting line. Anyone using these shops has to head back to the end of the line if they want to go to Mexico.

This also affects people who work in Calexico, and other nearby towns, who live in Mexicali and have to go back home. In spite of the fact that they have the best of both worlds – U.S. salaries and Mexicali living expenses – it is a problem.

Once while waiting in line way back at the end, near Calexico’s Wal-mart, a couple of wise guys in SUVs cut around us and zipped down the dirt median by the side of the road. They were churning up a lot of dust as they sped by the rest of us law-abiding folks to get ahead of us in line.

Well, guess what?  Boom! They were all stopped by the California Highway patrol and given tickets. The rest of us in line rolled down our windows, clapped and whistled as the “smart guys” got tickets.

“Geez,” said Jim, “don’t that just make you feel good all over?”

Matthew, who is a bit of a day dreamer, added, “Gosh, I thought it was a dust storm?”

I answered, “Well, it was – look at the hood of our truck it’s full of dust!”

Since we always have a ton of errands to complete in Calexico, and El Centro, we now return home to Mexicali late in the evening – about 8 or 9pm.  Like everyone else, we patiently wait in line. No rush, we just listen to the radio, eat burgers and fries in the truck and relax!

Like Jim says, “Ain’t no one paying us to rush back home.”

Jim turns up his favorite cowboy music on the radio, and we all relax.

Well, not exactly – Matthew fashions himself to be a singer, and sometimes, he sings along.

Until Jim says, “C’mon, Matthew, gimme a break.”

A reader sent in a query to me. He wanted to open a small factory for his sewing business and asked if Mexicali was safe.

The answer is a resounding YES. In Phoenix, he is paying $10 an hour for his employees – in Mexicali, it would be only $2 an hour.

Companies are now realizing that Mexico is a much better investment than Asia. Rising Chinese costs and higher shipping prices are part of the reason. Then there is China’s rampant piracy, risk of losing intellectual property, quality failures, and communication problems.

Also, China is just too far away.

Mexico is located on the U.S. border; goods can reach U.S. retailers and manufacturers in only two days rather than in five weeks from China.

In addition, in Mexico, business operations and practices are handled much like in the U.S.

Beijing’s Lenovo left China to open a plant in Mexico to make up to 5 million ThinkPad notebook PCs a year. Yes, manufacturing is even moving from China to Mexico!

Despite all of the drug war news happening in Tijuana, and Juarez, the Mexican maquiladoras-factories making goods for export-are not fleeing. Each day, 9,000 managers cross the Rio Grande safely from El Paso Texas, to the Juárez plants of Johnson Controls, Cummins, Emerson Electric, Delphi Automotive, and others.

MOVING TO MEXICALI

Mexicali, a city of close to 1 million, and the the capital of the Mexican state of Baja California, has been spared the violence of nearby Tijuana.

Baja California, and Mexicali are in Mexico’s Free Zone and are not considered parts of Mexico for customs purposes. In the Free Zone businesses may import goods duty free, except from other parts of Mexico.

Mexicali and Monterey are the two safest places for manufacturing in Mexico. Mexicali, however, holds a big advantage, because it is right smack on the border, close to both San Diego and Phoenix.

U.S. Interstate 8 is just seven miles from Mexicali, and U.S. Interstate 10 is only a few miles further north.

Rail service from Mexico crosses the Mexicali border into California and extends to San Diego and Los Angeles, with connections to all U.S. rail routes.

Air transport is also available from Mexicali’s International Airport, and from the Imperial Valley Airport 15 miles north across the border from Mexicali.

Things are so good in Mexicali, that David J. Hill, formerly with National Semiconductor, is leading the development of a 10,000-acre high-tech park called Silicon Border in Mexicali.

Factory jobs are moving from the U.S. to Mexico.

Kellogg’s new $100 million plant in Mexicali has 247,500 square feet – it is their 4th factory in Mexico. Kraft buys its taco shells from a factory in Mexicali owned by a subsidiary of PepsiCo.

In Mexicali, Skyworks, a maker of semiconductors for mobile phones and PDAs, is adding 100 jobs to produce items they formerly made in Maryland. Skyworks originally considered relocating to China, but decided Mexico is actually cheaper because its skilled workforce is more efficient.

Yes, Mexicali is more efficient than China!

Mexicali is also attracting such high-tech industries as microelectronics, aerospace, and medical devices. Gulfstream has expanded its Mexicali facility to produce sections of executive jets. Honeywell, which has large manufacturing operations in Mexicali, has opened a $40 million center staffed with 300 of its engineers.

To further improve its manufacturing prowess, Mexico is studying successful business models in Asia, the U.S., and Europe. Mexico is also collaborating with universities and private industry to upgrade workforces, infrastructure, research and development programs.

In the past five years the Mexicali campus of Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC) has doubled its engineering enrollment to 4,000.

UABC and CETYS Universidad, Mexicali’s top private university, recently added bachelor’s and graduate programs in aerospace engineering, microelectronics, bioengineering, radio frequency design, and renewable and clean energies.

Mexicali, itself, is a model of clean energy usage. It does not depend on fossil fuels to generate electricity, but has a huge 750 MW geothermal power plant site just 20 miles to the south of the city. Baja California even exports electrical energy to the U.S!

Fluency in English is a requirement. In fact, many residents of Mexicali are English speakers. Most of the movies in Mexicali are in English along with the TV.

Not only that, in Mexicali, you can drive a car with U.S. plates, and pay in dollars or pesos wherever you want – even at Mexicali’s Super Wal-Mart!

This is all due to Mexicali being in Mexico’s Free Zone.

With Calexico right across the border, most Americans would feel very much at home in Mexicali.

The drug cartels? Mexicali is extremely peaceful, with no apparent activity from any of the reputed drug cartels.

For those who want to start small, and gain an easy manufacturing foothold in Mexico, space, and employees are ready and waiting in industrial parks, including Mexicali.

“Shelter plans” provide U.S. companies with ready-made manufacturing facilities complete with employees.

The Shelter Plan

The shelter plan provides foreign manufacturers with a fast start in manufacturing operations in Mexico without having to go through the process of setting up their own facility.

With the shelter plan, the risks of labor liability, ownership of facilities and legal presence in Mexico are avoided. Immediate start-up is possible with minimal costs, and there is flexibility to grow or shrink as needed. There is no long-term commitment, and no legal presence in Mexico is required for this.

It’s time for manufacturers targeting the U.S. market to take a hard look at Mexico – and especially at Mexicali.