It’s the holidays! Time for ho, ho, ho, giggling children and time spent with family and friends. With most companies slowing down and vacation days available, why not spend the season at the beach? Hotels and resorts are offering great seasonal rental rates, so instead of crowding everyone into your casa at the holidays; bring them down to a beautifully decorated condo or casita.
Imagine waking up Christmas morning, walking the warm sandy beach and listening to the gentle waves. Cook a holiday seafood dinner of delicious Rocky Point shrimp, or try out a neighboring restaurant or spend Christmas Eve with the residents of a local church. Better yet, volunteer some time or give donations to those less fortunate in Rocky Point- your guaranteed to have a warm Holiday of giving.
There are many organizations in Puerto Peñasco looking for donations, your time and good spirit. Pick one you feel connected to and volunteer.
The Santa Claus Club– a fitting name for the holidays– can always use donations. This now year-round organization is especially visible at the holidays where bikes and toys are given to children on Christmas Day at JJ’s Cantina. The Santa Claus Club has a website www.santaclausclub.org with drop off information, pictures and totals of goods delivered into the barrios.
According to John Fowler, organizer of the club, “The Santa Claus Club has been providing food, clothes, toys, bicycles, school supplies, and household items to needy families in Puerto Peñasco for the past 31 years. For the first 24 years, we held a Christmas Party in Cholla Bay on Christmas Day. In 2007, we changed our format to a year-round program. We now provide our services door to door on a weekly basis.”
There are many ways to spend your holiday days, but according to the golden rule that has been passed down in history, “Do to others what you would want them to do to you.”
Yes, there are many ways to make a difference, and when you do, miraculously; it makes a difference in you.
With the holiday spirit in mind, and speaking of giving, let’s look at the classic English Christmas Carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas”. It’s a story about true love giving gifts at the holiday. It is a cumulative song, with each verse building on to the next. It is said that a leader started the song, sang it to the group, and as each verse was added the individual singing would have to sing until a player made a mistake, when a mistake was made, the player who erred would have to pay a penalty “offering up a kiss or a sweet”.
Well, while you are in Rocky Point, try singing this song. If you are looking for some Christmas cheer, gather a group together, and sing along!! Be creative and invent sweet penalties, if you miss a verse!

The Twelve Days of Rocky Point
On the first day of Rocky Point
My true love gave to me:
A boat ride on the blue sea
On the second day of Rocky Point
My true love gave to me:
Two beach massages and
A boat ride on the blue sea
On the third day of Rocky Point

My true love gave to me:
Three seagulls laughing
Two beach massages and
A boat ride on the blue sea
On the fourth day of Rocky point
My true love gave to me:
Four graceful pelicans
Three seagulls laughing
Two beach massages and
A boat ride on the blue sea
On the fifth day of Rocky Point
My true love gave to me:
Five golden beers
Four graceful pelicans
Three seagulls laughing
Two beach massages and
A boat ride on the blue sea
On the sixth day of Rocky Point,
My true love gave to me:
Six spouting whales
Five golden beers
Four graceful pelicans
Three seagulls laughing
Two beach massages and
A boat ride on the blue sea
On the seventh day of Rocky Point,
My true love gave to me:
Seven dolphins swimming
Six spouting whales
Five golden beers,
Four graceful pelicans
Three seagulls laughing
Two beach massages and
A boat ride on the blue sea
On the eight day of Rocky Point,
My true love gave to me:
Eight succulent shrimp
Seven dolphins swimming
Six spouting whales
Five golden beers
Four graceful pelicans
Three seagulls laughing
Two beach massages and
A boat ride on the blue sea
On the ninth day of Rocky Point,
My true love gave to me:
Nine gringos dancing

Eight succulent shrimp
Seven dolphins swimming
Six spouting whales
Five golden beers,
Four graceful pelicans
Three seagulls laughing
Two beach massages and
A boat ride on the blue sea
On the tenth day of Rocky Point,
My true love gave to me:
Ten fish a leaping
Nine gringos dancing
Eight succulent shrimp
Seven dolphins swimming
Six spouting whales
Five golden beers,
Four graceful pelicans
Three seagulls laughing
Two beach massages and
A boat ride on the blue sea
On the eleventh day of Rocky Point,
My true love gave to me:
Eleven mariachis playing
Ten fish a leaping
Nine gringos dancing
Eight succulent shrimp
Seven dolphins swimming
Six spouting whales
Five golden beers,
Four graceful pelicans
Three seagulls laughing
Two beach massages and
A boat ride on the blue sea
On the Twelfth day of Rocky Point,
My true love gave to me:
Twelve gorgeous sunsets
Eleven mariachis playing
Ten fish a leaping
Nine gringos dancing
Eight succulent shrimp
Seven dolphins swimming
Six spouting whales
Five golden beers,
Four graceful pelicans
Three seagulls laughing
Two beach massages and
A boat ride on the blue sea

Happy Holidays to all and a great New Year of cheer!!

Anita Kaltenbaugh is the Mexico travel examiner at examiner.com and author of the book “Travel Secrets- Insider guide to planning, affording and taking more vacations” available on Amazon.com as an e-book or paperback. Create your travel bucket list today.