Casa Delfin Sonriente's Blog

"Blessed are the Goldfish" and yes, we are pet friendly too at the Casa Delfin Soinriente Bed and breakfast Hotel and rental villa. God bless Mutly, Chile, and Allfa and Iggy who lives under the rock pile.

2012-01-20T10:27:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=5T9X6kTVdeU

New: Spanish Translation of Casa Delfin Sonriente Website

2012-01-16T21:03:00.000-08:00

Check out our newly translated website in Spanish. Just click on 'Espanol' at the top right corner of the homepage of the Casa Delfin Sonriente website. Coming soon: French and German translations.

Grab Your Chopsticks!

2012-01-15T12:51:00.000-08:00

Grab your chopsticks--imagine an incredible surf adventure, be the first to surf unimagined Chinese surf breaks. But if you only have a week off our Troncones' surf hotel/ rental villa may have some fun uncrowded waves right out front.

"Micro" wins big in China

By Jake Howard
ESPN.com

MunozGlenn "Micro" Hall came away from the Hainan Cup with the biggest -- and only -- win in Chinese surfing history.

If a key component of surf travel is accessing foreign cultures under the guise of scoring a few good waves, then the Hainan Classic has to be considered a success. Over the years wave-riding adventurers have dabbled in China, uncovering a beachbreak here or river bore there, but the country's potential has never been witnessed by a large, global audience, that is until the ASP and ISA joined forces to webcast two back-to-back events from the otherwise quiet island of Hainan.
Irishman Glenn Hall captured the four-star ASP Hainan Classic today in very contestable three- to four-foot lefts, just edging out South Africa's Royden Bryson in a back-and-forth final.
"China's been amazing, I was honestly stoked to come here regardless of the contest, but to come here and have fun, uncrowded waves, was great," told Hall of the experience. "The first couple days were two-foot and fun, then it got to four-foot and pumping, and then it got bigger and it's just been a good week. I'm pumped, it's been the funnest week of surfing, so to have a win and a check to go with it is amazing."

Munoz

A goofy-footer through and through, Royden Bryson finished second overall, and swears he'll "be back" after seeing the potential of the left point on Hainan Island.

Surf contests are obviously about winning and losing, but the ISA's China Cup (won by Team Australia earlier in the week) and the ASP's Hainan Classic carried much more significance than just awarding a couple of oversized cardboard checks and a jade trophy. This was about, as ISA President Fernando Aguerre noted, "growing the sport." Already well entrenched in the Americas, Australia and Europe, with the exception of Indonesia and Japan, surfing in Asia has yet to truly take off ... and what better place to get a foothold in than China, the most populated county in the world.
"There's little to no beach culture in China," explained Aguerre shortly before departing for the events on Hainan. "They never went through a 'Gidget' boom phase like we did in the West. You saw something similar happened with Japan a number of years ago, and now the sport is thriving there. Nobody went to the beach to go surfing in Japan, but that's not the case anymore, it's very popular there today. China is a country on the rise, for the first time there is a middle-class emerging, and with it comes a disposable income. Our hope was to show them that you can come to the beach and enjoy the ocean."
It must be noted that a large part of Aguerre's agenda as ISA President is to see surfing eventually become an Olympic recognized sport, and a country like China holds considerable sway in that decision making process. And it's also worth pointing out that for a company like Quiksilver, who supported the recent events, there's a windfall of cash to made selling boardshorts and beachwear to this new middle-class ... if they're willing to riot over the release of the iPhone, in five years just think how they'd react if Dane Reynolds' signature boardshorts were in short supply. But all of that is neither here nor there, for the Chinese kid watching his first surf contest or maybe riding his first wave, this could very much be a life-changing, watershed moment, because as so many surfers will tell you, once you're bit by the bug there's no going back.

Munoz

Hall enroute to his win in a tightly contested final.

Maybe it's cliché to say, but the China Cup and Hainan Classic have indeed been historical milestones in the evolution of surfing as a global sport. For starters, Glenn Hall's win is the biggest ASP victory for Ireland, a country whose profile is very much on the rise as big-wave scores and a dedicated local population is elevating its visibility. But in terms of China, "this is just the start of things to come," said Aguerre, ever the politician.
But the most telling indication of what lies ahead came from the surfers. Runner-up Royden Bryson remarked, "I cannot believe the quality of the waves. It's a place I'll definitely visit again in the future." It would appear that the future is now, and surfing is no longer a foreign sport on a foreign shore.

Jaqueline at our rental villa / beachside hotel is into all things Ghoulish

2012-01-07T11:12:00.000-08:00

In Mexico, getting into Guinness can seem like a broken record

The record-setting phenomenon is, in part, testament to the eye-popping scale of the Mexican capital, the venue for many of the record-breaking stunts. About 20 million people jam the place.

The living dead snarl for the camera in November. Nearly 10,000 people smeared with fake blood lurched through Mexico City’s central plaza in what organizers said was the World’s Biggest Zombie Walk. (Marco Ugarte, Associated Press / November 26, 2011)

By Ken Ellingwood, Los Angeles Times

December 30, 2011, 3:27 p.m.

Reporting from Mexico City—

Mexico is setting a record pace — again.

Hardly a month goes by without someone here breaking a world record, or claiming to. The world's biggest cup of hot chocolate. Most people kissing at once. Longest carpet of flowers. Biggest group haircut.

Recently, people were flocking to the parking lot of a stadium in Mexico City to see what promoters called the World's Biggest Nativity Scene: a faux Bethlehem covering five acres and populated with 1,000 life-size figures.

On Dec. 13 came recognition for the World's Biggest Soccer Tournament, with 12,000 teams and a player roster larger than the population of the city of Glendale. In November, the living dead took center stage: Nearly 10,000 people smeared with fake blood lurched through Mexico City's central plaza in what organizers said was the World's Biggest Zombie Walk.

The record-setting phenomenon is, in part, testament to the eye-popping scale of the Mexican capital, the venue for many of the record-breaking stunts. About 20 million people jam this place. On many days, it's a certainty that you are stuck in the World's Most Hopeless Traffic Snarl or packed inside the World's Hottest and Most Crowded Subway Car.

Having so much humanity available means it's not hard to scoop up at least a few thousand for the most obscure record-setting event. In the recent zombie walk, ghoulish participants gathered to call for an end to discrimination, collect food for impoverished children and draw attention to a Mexican horror film festival.

Event organizers are gathering videos, lists of participants and other evidence to have the zombie walk registered by Guinness World Records.

The quest for world records can be a way to boost a social cause, as when 4,125 people in pink created the longest human ribbon in Mexico City in October to publicize the fight against breast cancer. Or the event can serve as a gimmick for tourism or other commerce.

Mexico City authorities have hyped some of their seasonal projects as record-setters, including the biggest ice-skating rink (344,000 square feet) and artificial Christmas tree (362 feet high and 115 feet across).

This year's gigantic Nativity scene was mounted by a Colombian company that charges as much as $5 to enter. The village, with 57 separate scenes and looking like something out of "Life of Brian," is done up with fake camels and palm trees and actors in robes and gladiator sandals. Robotic plastic figures depict the biblical story of the Annunciation, when the archangel Gabriel tells Mary that she is to give birth.

Adrian Lozano, the project's media director, said the installation set the record last year in the Colombian city of Cali, but that this Mexican version is even larger.

"We wanted a big city that would provide a platform for the whole world to see," Lozano said.

Some regard the records fixation as plain silly and say it may be a sign of a shortcoming in the Mexican makeup.

"We don't like to compete. They are records based on the idea of not competing," commentator Carlos Elizondo Mayer-Serra once wrote. "If we have the tallest Christmas tree in the world, it's only because our city government decided to use our taxes to make one taller, and called in a Brazilian company to do it."

But during a period when Mexico has suffered economic troubles and horrific drug violence, what's a better diversion than making the world's biggest taco (200 feet long in the city of Queretaro in November) or getting the most people to dance folkloric ballet at the same time (457 dancers in Guadalajara in September)?

Pablo Guisa, who organized the zombie walk, said most of the Mexican records, such as the mass kiss in Mexico City two years ago (39,897 people), are "pretty stupid." Nonetheless, he said, they help take the pressure off.

"In a country with so much violence and so many crises, to be able to take people out of their reality for a moment to be part of something bigger is, in the end, a good thing … even if the effort is a bit empty," Guisa said.

With so much record-chasing, Mexicans sometimes find that the only marks left to smash are their own. Astronomy buffs here announced this month that they had surpassed their previous record for mass moon-gazing, with more than 15,000 people peering through 2,753 telescopes.

And anyway, who doesn't want to leave a mark?

"In the United States, they're very perfectionist. Mexicans try, but we tend to settle for less," said Lily Juarez, a Mexico City native who lives in San Antonio and was visiting the Nativity display.

"We say, 'If we don't reach it, that's OK,' " she said. "But we do like to break records."

ken.ellingwood@latimes.com

Twelve Grapes and Other Mexican New Year Traditions

2012-01-01T10:33:00.000-08:00

This New Year’s is going to be different,” said 23-year-old Lynwood resident Rebecca Hernandez.
As her father and other relatives head off to Mexico to visit family, Hernandez said she plans to celebrate the New Year with close friends at her home.
“Previous years, it has just been with family always at our house. We’ll have everyone come over and make food like posole, tamales... a lot of Mexican food,” said Hernandez.
Along with the usual celebration of welcoming the New Year, some families like Hernandez’s, have also tried Mexican New Year’s traditions that are said to bring good luck into the next year.
According to Hernandez, she has done everything from eating 12 grapes for 12 wishes to sweeping her house with a broom in order to take out bad spirits. All while the clock counts down to midnight.
“Traditions, I think, are always wacky,” said Hernandez.
However, she did say that one of her New Year traditions did come true.
According to a Mexican travel website, you have to encircle your house with empty suitcases right at midnight to ensure you get to travel during the incoming year.
“I did the luggage one and it worked because I went to Brazil that year,” she said.
The website also states that women who seek certain things in their life, such as love, happiness and health, must wear certain colored underwear which corresponds to what they want.
Maria Reyes, a South Gate resident for 36 years, said she tried that tradition last year.
“The yellow one is for money and the red one is for love…and you have to wear them inside out,” said Reyes.
Another New Year's tradition for good luck that Reyes has tried is to put fruit and uncooked lentils on the table to bring prosperity.
“When that is done, you put a few lentils in a plastic bag and leave it in your purse for the whole year…it’s so you are never left without money,” said Reyes.
According to Reyes, the reason for using lentils is because its shape is similar to that of coins.
However, Reyes believes spending time with family, whether her husband’s or hers, is most important for her.
“Everything will be alright while you have faith in God,” said Reyes.
“It’s just something funny to do,” she adds.
For Hernandez, these ‘wacky traditions’ are just another way to be together with her family.
“It’s funny to look at your aunt trying to shove 12 grapes in her mouth as she’s saying her wishes,” said Hernandez.
“I don’t believe that if I eat 12 grapes my twelve wishes come true, but I do like the fact that we’re all doing something together.”

Flying To Your Mexico Vacation Home Holiday —A Retrospective Opinion. Or, A Long Gripe About Alaska Airlines

2011-12-31T11:30:00.000-08:00

For almost twenty years I’ve flown Alaska to get to my beachside hotel/ B&B / Mexico vacation rental villa the Casa Delfin Sonriente from central California. Usually but not always on Alaska Airlines. I’ve also flown Aeromexico, Mexicana, United and Continental airlines. After over 100 trips now –easy—I Have some opinions I’d like to share. Mainly about the two airlines I’ve had the most experience with: Alaska and Mexicana airlines.

To begin with Alaska has the best safety record – an important fact for sure; although, if that was everyone’s first criteria we’d all just fly Quantus if we could where ever we went( no reported air difficulties or crashes to date ever) and this record is the same for Alaska air with exclusion of the media reported hefty fines that were levied on Alaska for ignoring FAA maintenance and hazards removal recommendations a year or two ago. These are relevant issues but again if crash data were” the factor “ as opposed to prices, itinerary, comfort, food, etc. then we would have to eliminate America, United, Continental, Delta, and every other lesser known airline that has been in the news over the last thirty years because of crashes.

Like many people I can relax more on a flight with Good food, liberal drinking, and friendly service to help out. So one thing I haven’t been good at ignoring had been years of Alaska air food services terrible food: as in ” would you like a cold dry sandwich or a cold dry hamburger for six dollars credit card only sir?( Long time Alaska flyers will remember although this has improved greatly in the last year or two.) Then this was followed by the removal of my san Francisco connection to Zihautanejo, followed by the removal of Blankets against cold cabin temps on flights, the tight seating, the removal of magazines, the overpriced( recent options) for foot room, the never-ending marketing of credit cards, the credit cards only attitude, and never once a movie. I am still flying Alaska, but only because there are almost no alternatives from where I live in the states anymore.

I used to fly Mexicana a lot but a) they went out of business and b.) there was always a stopover in Mexico city that most people would not prefer. But boy oh boy On Mexicana and Aeromexico the tequila often flowed freely and for free ,the food was really good, the beer complementary, and the willingness to take pesos or dollars friendly. Gee I wish they would return again or someone would make a run at Alaska air to force better food, prices, and a movie.

The new yoga deck addition for yoga retreats at our Troncones villa

2011-12-30T11:08:00.000-08:00

Yoga retreats are more and more popular and as a result I have come up with an interesting design to double the size of the yoga deck at our beachfront Bed and breakfast / rental villa on Troncones Beach. When Your Mexico surfing trip has worn down your muscles yoga and stretching combined with a very reasonably priced massage are a great way to keep an older guy like me surfing day after day and many of our surfing guests benefit. So along with the massage table on site we built a pool front beach view yoga deck extending out from the pools edge. But trying to accommodate twelve people doing yoga all at once was taking this to another level and so I had to come up with a plan for our first bigger yoga retreat that also includes added shade. I am installing the new addition at the end of January and I am pretty happy about what I think is an ingenious plan. Since there was no easy way to extend the deck out ward over the wall without redesigning the land scape and taking out the sea wall I decided to add wood deck that could be inserted over the infinity table end of the pool for when more space was needed and taken off in just a few moments by two people. It will sit on waterproofed joists and extend over the infinity table to add another 10’ x8’ feet of deck when needed. It looks good on paper and I will post pictures in February after the retreat. By the way we have space available Contact Casa Delfin Sonriente if you want to know more.

Casa Delfin Sonrienteests

“Your beautiful vacation home/bed and breakfast inn on Mexico’s spectacular Pacific coast.”

Contact us by phone:

US: 831.688.6578

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays from Casa Delfin Sonriente

2011-12-25T12:28:00.000-08:00

troncones beachfront holiday with jewish mexico flavor

2011-12-20T09:38:00.000-08:00

The recipes in this article combining mexican specialties with Jewish comfort foods struck a chord with me from childhood summer vacations in Mexico city eating and watching dishes like these prepared in my Jewish grandmothers kitchen

http://bites.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/20/9562864-not-your-bubbes-hanukkah-feast-mexican-latkes-and-more

Not your bubbe's Hanukkah feast: Mexican latkes and more

By Sarah Spigelman

What Jew Wanna Eat

Why not try delicious Mexican latkes for a twist on tradition?

Hanukkah, the festival of lights, starts at sundown Tuesday night. Jews around the world will celebrate the ancient holiday with dreidel games, menorahs, and, of course, food!
Traditional Hanukkah food is all about the oil — to commemorate the oil that lit the first Chanukiah (special Hanukkah menorah) for eight nights, pretty much everything is fried. As a card-carrying Hanukkah enthusiast, I have had more than my fair share of latkes and jelly doughnuts at Hanukkah parties. But Venezuelan chicken stew? Nutella beignets? Fast food latkes? These Hanukkah dishes are like nothing your bubbe (Yiddish for grandma) ever made!
Mexican latkes and sweet and sour brisket
Latkes made with corn, jalapenos, and cilantro? It surely isn't what my grandpa ate back in Poland, but Amy Kritzer, of What Jew Wanna Eat, loves these Mexican Latkes. "Living in Texas, we add spice to everything, and I thought jalapeno would be a perfect complement to the fried potato,” she said. “Turns out it is!" She gets her inspiration from reading blogs and chatting with other foodies, but says that her favorite tip is to "just wander around[the] local supermarket and discover local and seasonal ingredients." Make it an entirely Tex-Mex Hanukkah feast by serving these latkes with Krtizer's Texan BBQ-influenced brisket - a little bit of tradition, a little bit of Texan, and a whole lot of delicious.
For more Jewish-Mexican favorites, be sure to check out the blog Challa-peno, written by a mother-daughter cooking duo who demystify the Jewish food culture in Mexico, with recipes like flanken in salsa de chile de arbol.

SweetHappyLife.com

Nutella beignets
Since Hanukkah is all about the oil, doughnuts are a no-brainer, and sufganiyot, or jelly-filled doughnuts, are traditional Hanukkah fare. Ariela and Peter Pelaia, who run the blog Sweet Happy Life, took the idea one step further with their Nutella beignets. Inspired by a visit to New Orleans' famed Cafe du Monde, Ariela says this is the perfect Hanukkah dish because it’s a twist on tradition and allows kids to help out in the kitchen. As she puts it, "We were looking for ways our toddler could help prepare the dough. What's more toddler-friendly than playing with dough and scooping chocolate? Even very young toddlers can help with parts of this recipe." Get the full recipe on Kveller.
Venezuelan Arroz Con Pollo
No one can live solely on fried potatoes and dough, so when it’s time to complete the meal, forgo the standard pot roast and go for something a little out of the ordinary. Miriam Kesh's Venezuelan Arroz Con Pollo is something she ate on many Jewish Sabbaths when she was growing up in Venezuela. The daughter of a Sephardic Jewish mother who was raised in Nicaragua, Kesh remembers celebrating Jewish holidays with Venezuelan recipes, and this dish, filled with saffron, garlic and olives, is the perfect main course for those of you who are tired of the bland chicken and stringy beef you always eat at your mom's Hanukkah parties (sorry, mom).
Alsatian Hanukkah fruit bread
Joan Nathan might as well be the Joan of Arc of Jewish cooking — she is the patron saint and utmost authority on Jewish history, heritage and culture related to food. When she published her cookbook “Quiches, Kugels and Couscous: My Search for Jewish Cooking in France,” she focused on the Jewish community living in all parts of France, and how French cooking techniques and ingredients blended with Jewish traditions and culture. Jews who live in Alsace, near the German border of France, make this Hutzel Wecken, a sweet fruit bread that is subtle and elegant — a far cry from the cocktail weenies in grape jelly that my grandmother made (but then, we aren't those fancy French Jews).

Fast food latkes
Some people might consider this a shanda (shame), but to thousands of broke, lazy college kids, it's pure genius. The folks at Fancy Fast Food put together a latke that looks gorgeous enough for the cover of any high-end cooking magazine, using just ingredients from a Wendy's drive-through menu. A few orders of hash browns, a couple of baked potatoes, some sauces and a sprinkling of organic chives "for a touch of irony" are all that are in these fast-food latkes. Hash browns never looked so great or so haymishe (having Jewish soul).

Sarah Spigelman

Kimchi latkes
Reading about all of these latkes really inspired me. How could I just be satisfied with plain old potato pancakes after reading about all these? So, I used my favorite Korean ingredients to create kimchi latkes that are spicy, savory, and definitely out of the ordinary. A little kimchi, a touch of gochujang, and a heaping addition of Jewish guilt make these chili-and-cilantro-laden latkes one of my favorite new fusion dishes.
Tell us, how do you jazz up your Hanukkah dishes?
Sarah Spigelman will eat anything that isn't moving too fast for her to catch. She believes that if the kimchi isn't spicy enough to make her eyes tear and her nose run, it really isn't a meal.

Saving surf breaks

2011-12-17T11:36:00.000-08:00

Whether you are interested in Saving great surf breaks from ruinous development or just being ecofriendly this organization is worth knowing about for a lot of reasons. Check it out.

http://www.independent.com/news/2011/dec/15/protecting-worlds-best-rollers/

Will Henry

South African surfer Cass Collier at Jardim do Mar, Madeira.

Protecting the World’s Best Rollers

Santa Barbara’s Will Henry and His Save The Waves Coalition

Thursday, December 15, 2011

By Joanie Hudson

Yosemite’s iconic Half Dome is to rock climbers what Rincon Point is to surfers — a place of unbridled beauty and internationally celebrated perfection. However, while Yosemite sits on a vast expanse of permanently protected government land, Rincon, despite its lofty status, remains very much vulnerable to ruin at the hand of man. Should a threat be posed to Rincon Point’s surf break, what can be done to fight to protect the wave? How will the community ensure that one of the world’s most famous and spectacular waves is kept from extinction?

Will Henry

Enter Save The Waves (STW), a worldwide watchdog on the lookout for surf breaks teetering on the brink of destruction with the singular purpose of protection. For the past decade, STW has been building a résumé of success, its members’ efforts helping chalk up victories for embattled surf breaks in Mexico, Nicaragua, Ireland, and Spain. Working as a facilitator between various surf-minded organizations, STW helps give voice to wave-preservation efforts in communities big and small to such a degree that, when the group succeeds, the importance of the “saved” surf spot is recognized from the local government level all the way to the United Nations. Now, our beloved Rincon Point, the Queen of the Coast who calls the Santa Barbara/Ventura County line home, is on their protection radar.
Santa Barbara’s Will Henry, an avid photographer and surfer who first fell in love with the Queen during his days at Carpinteria’s Cate School, founded Save The Waves in 2001 after running headfirst into what exactly the potential death of world-class waves looks like. Henry had made numerous visits throughout the late 1990s to the surf-rich island of Madeira, an unspoiled point-break paradise with European comforts (the archipelago is technically part of Portugal) and warm water off the northwest coast of Morocco. A relatively new surf discovery, the magic of Madeira and the healthy supply of powerful Atlantic Ocean swells instantly had Henry transfixed.
However, during a return trip in 2001, Henry arrived to find a growling bulldozer at Lugar de Baixo, a hollow and occasionally perfect right-hand point. “I recall pulling up to this pristine coastline only to see giant rocks being begrudgingly dragged off of the shore in an effort to build a seawall,” Henry remembers with disturbed urgency. As it turned out, a marina was being built right on top of the wave, and a small group of Madeira locals, outraged by the sure destruction of their surf spot, were essentially powerless to stop it.
“For me, this was unacceptable. I went back home to California, and I practically couldn’t sleep at night thinking about this beautiful wave that was going to be gone, the natural shoreline that was being obliterated,” said Henry. As a direct response to the situation in Maderia, Save The Waves was born. Soon enough, Henry returned to Madeira to help fight the project, and, after lengthy struggles with government officials, the marina was moved. However, the victory was, as Henry called it, bittersweet, for the seawall remained, and the wave at Lugar de Baixo has never been the same.

Will Henry

Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz has been named as the next area in California where a World Surfing Reserve will be dedicated in Spring 2012.

In the years since its founding, STW has engaged in collaboration with numerous coastal-preservation nonprofits, including the Surfrider Foundation and Surfers Against Sewage, not only to bring together marine-focused scientific minds toward supporting the surfing community, but also to show the world what a wave is worth in both social and economic terms, as well as to serve as a call to action to create a united global web of protection.
Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, and the nonprofit 1% for the Planet, has been an instrumental supporter of STW. “They create World Heritage Sites, like Yosemite,” Chouinard said, “Why not have them for surf spots, so that the whole world sees the value of them and wants to protect them? There are very few famous great surf breaks, and these, including Rincon, should be formally recognized worldwide.”
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) lists World Heritage Sites as being of special cultural or physical significance. These special places are protected on an international level, as conserving them is in the interest of the global community of humanity.
Fighting for wave preservation and subsequent connected activities during the past decade has resulted in one of the most influential and proactive projects organized by Save The Waves to date — the World Surfing Reserves (WSR) program. An idea inspired by Chouinard, WSR identifies, designates, and preserves outstanding waves, surf zones, and their surrounding environments around the world. Serving as a global model based upon the World Heritage Sites procedures, it also calls upon the grassroots approach at a local level to take each important surfing wave from nomination to WSR fruition (Malibu was the first designated World Surfing Reserve in October 2010). Along with key partners National Surfing Reserves (NSR) Australia and the ISA (International Surfing Association), STW plans for these enshrinements to serve as a “UNESCO of surfing.”
If Rincon is to become a WSR, an area stewardship council needs to be formed to submit an application, which is available on the Save The Waves Web site (savethewaves.org).

Saving surf breaks

2011-12-17T11:24:00.000-08:00

Whether you are interested in saving great surf breaks from ruinous development or just being ecofriendly this organization is worth knowing about for a lot of reasons. Check it out
.

Slideshow of Aerial Photography of Guerrero

2011-12-14T11:58:00.000-08:00

Here is a link to a fantastic slideshow of aerial photography of the state of Guerrero by photographer Erick Monroy on Flickr for the book Guerrero desde el Aire (Guerrero from Above). Here is one of Troncones:

surf adventures or Would you like to have your car washed mister

2011-12-03T16:48:00.001-08:00

Children stay with the car no matter what!

Troncones and Santa Cruz Beach Break Power

2011-12-02T13:16:00.001-08:00

http://carlsbad.patch.com/articles/the-best-winter-surf-travel-destinations#photo-8570423

"Troncones and Saladita offer cool surf-style accommodations and a variety of waves. Exploring the coast and going off the beaten track is worth the effort." The beachfront bed and breakfast hotel Casa Delfin Sonriente sometimes has the best Troncones surf right out your front door.

There are some great surf pictures of Troncones from photographer Bruce Grimes in the photo gallery with this article and my other home of Santa Cruz is also included in this list of seven top winter surf destinations - I'm stoked! Feeling like one lucky surfer this winter!

A great winter shot of my friend Craig Anderson ripping a Santa Cruz area beach break on a clear, cold winter day.

La Saladita & High Finance

2010-10-15T15:15:00.000-07:00

Last week I took my staff over to La Saladita. They had never been there before and there was some cool stuff that resulted from the day. My good friend Marbella, who worked at CDS for ten years as a housekeeper, joined Maria and Albert and Kleber and me for a little afternoon break...

From all the summer rains the Los Llanos river had created a terrific dry mountainous sand bar at the south end of Saladitas connected to the beach by an isthmus at low tide, making for a great swimming area without surf where Maria and Kleber enjoyed a swim.

As an aside, it is worthy of note how much all the sand carried down by the rivers from these rains should enhance conditions for good surf –as an excellent smooth bottom and sand bars at many breaks may improve the shape and quality of the waves this fall. Count on it. However this story’s focus is on high finance…

So there we were, sitting at Divinas Ramada restaurant watching the sunset and having refreshments. The conversation came around to a subject I knew about but didn’t understand well— the Mexican Tanda.

Basically a “Tanda” is a cooperative scheme that trusted friends enter into in order to save and have access to a larger amount of cash for a given week that otherwise they would have difficulty accumulating on their own.

Then Marbella pulled out a piece of paper and began to explain the concept of the Tanda she operates in detail. It was a fascinating glimpse into their lives and culture. I then received an education from Maria and Marbella on this unique feature of Mexican life.

‘So what is it?’ The tanda is simply a way by which a small group (hers was eleven people) in a community hold money communally for a short time. This money is then used individually at prearranged times via lottery for projects or emergencies. It is an agreement lasting a few months and is often renewed every couple of months as the previous Tanda expires and is paid out.

This cooperative agreement or rotating credit association of Marbellas collects 1,500 pesos per week from each individual for eleven weeks. Each individual has access to all the cash—16,500 pesos—for the given week that they drew in a lottery. Weeks can be exchanged. No interests or dues are earned and no fees and no bank is used. To see a more complete description check out :

http://www.anthro.uci.edu/html/Programs/Anthro_Money/Tandas.htm

The site gives an incredible amount of historical and anthropological information about these cooperatives which although common throughout Mexico are almost unknown and unseen to the tourists visiting...

What's for Dinner?

2008-12-16T21:29:00.000-08:00

Troncones has some wonderful fishing spots. For guests that want to go out on a fishing excursion, and catch their own dinner to cook at the villa, more power to them. For those of you who want to pass on trolling the ocean, you can still enjoy the savory taste of freshly caught fish. El Burro Borracho restaurant is located walking distance from the villa and serves up the best seafood in town!

At El Burro Borracho you have the choice of steak, seafood, tacos, American food, and of course local cervezas (beer). Traditional Mexcan margaritas are also served and a must have if this is your first time here!

A local favorite you can be reassured that you'll leave satisfied.

Looking for Adventure?

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Within miles from the villa you'll find natural hot springs, horseback riding, cave exploring, and mountain bike trails. For advance surfers the break in front of the house is perfect. Novice and intermediate surfers may need to go down a couple miles from the villa to catch a wave, but the experience is well worth it! Those looking to learn to surf can take advantage of having the owner, Glen of Casa Delfin Sonriente give them a private lesson. Glen has surfed all around the world, including California, Australia, New Zealand, and Africa.

The Majauha caves are approximately two miles from the villa. The caves are an amazing sight of limestone. They are located over an underground riverbed. Visitors are encouraged to explore the caves in pairs. If your travel buddies aren't into this type of adventure, no worries, guided tours are available and you may even find a local to take along.

Need Help Packing?

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Packing can be extremely frustrating. Don't fret, for this trip all you need is your bathing suit and the desire to have fun and relax. Alright, you may need a few other items, but you'll be happy to know that there is a washer and dryer on the premise. This relieves you from back strain that often comes from carrying luggage up and down the airport.

To Bring:

Toothbrush
Toothpaste (if you forget this, there's extra)
Beach towel (bath towels are supplied)
Shorts
Jeans/long pant
Light rain jacket (this is a tropical location so small showers can appear out of nowhere)
Long sleeve shirt
Short sleeve shirt
Bathing suit
Socks
Shoes (for walking/hiking)
Underwear
Medications (recommended you bring extra medication in-case any is lost)
A book (there is a reading library, but donations are appreciated)
Flashlight (for cave exploring)

Lastly, pack a smile!

Organic Takes On New Meaning

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Do you love the taste of fresh fruit? So do we! In this fertile part of Southern Mexico exotic fruits such as mango, pineapple, papaya, coconuts, and many more, can be found. Each morning the cook at Casa Delfin Sonriente lays out an awesome assortment of a variety of local organic fruits.

For those of you who enjoy picking your own fruit, take the opportunity to cut down your own coconuts from the local plantation. Drink the coconut water right from the coconut and enjoy the health benefits such as an increase in metabolism. Cut up the coconut meat and nibble on it during your hike. This beats store bought trail mix!

Massage on the Beach

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Ever had a professional massage on the beach, while watching the sunset? There's nothing like it. Listening to the waves roll in as they gently splash against the rocks will help wash away any worries from the world you left back home.

Indulge in a nourishing escape as you enjoy a key signature massage. After a long day of surfing, nothing can beat the deep tissue massage. This massage uses deep, slow stroke techniques. Optional aromatherapy oils such as eucalyptus is available to give your body an extra boost.

Massages are in 30 minute and 1 hour durations. Single or couples massages are offered on the beach or in the privacy of your room. Tips are appreciated.

Welcome!

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Welcome to the blog spot for Casa Delfin Sonriente, your home away from home. This truly is a place where new friendships are formed, and wonderful memmories are created. Through this blog we hope to bring you new insight, tips for a successful trip, and a connection to the piece of paradise that we call Casa Delfin Sonriente.