Feliz Abril, Rocky Point!!! What a beautiful time to be enjoying our beaches and awesome weather. Thank you, Scotty Pea, for breaking me out of my golf slump with an awesome day out on the links…always a blast, and I think we should start a beach Bocce Ball tournament here in Peñasco. I have not played Bocce Ball in years, and it is a blast…helps a bit with the tunes and bevvies too! 😊 If you have not seen the processions commemorating the passion of Christ during Semana Santa, head on down to the Malecón to check it out. The elaborate costumes and festivities are quite impressive. Semana Santa is the week after Palm Sunday, leading up to Easter Sunday, and each day of the week has a special meaning. Here are some interesting facts about Semana Santa so you can stay in tune with the history and meaning of this holy week…
1 – It is considered the major annual celebration in Spain, Portugal, and most Latin American countries. You can attend the festival in most major cities.
2 – In Spain, the biggest celebrations occur in Andalucía, across the south. Seville, Málaga, Córdoba, and Granada are some of the most famous cities for their processions. In Mexico, Semana Santa is celebrated throughout the country, and most cities and even small towns have commemorative scenes with actors similar to a nativity scene at Christmas time.
3 – In Portugal, the biggest celebrations take place in the northern city of Braga. There are other interesting traditions and spectacles in the small Alentejo town of Castile da Vide and the historic northern city of Guimarães, considered the birthplace of Portugal.
4 – In Latin America, many celebrate Easter with a mix of indigenous and European Catholic traditions. For example, in Peru‘s Ayacucho, locals chant in the Quechua language.
5 – Quito in Ecuador is famed for its unique Arrastre de Caudas – the dragging of the cape. Rooted in Roman funerary rituals, the 16th-century tradition is thought to renew the faith. The archbishop waves a large flag over the prostrate bodies of priests in Quito’s cathedral.
6 – Brazil is the country in the region with the most Catholics. The processions during Semana Santa (or Semana da Páscoa in Portuguese) can reach tens of thousands of participants. In the state of Pernambuco, they set up the largest open-air theatre in the world – 61 square kilometers! Hundreds of actors re-enact The Passion of Christ. Each ‘paso’ – the famous religious floats carried on the shoulders of participants – can weigh over 2200 pounds.
7 – It takes about 40-50 men, called Nazarenos and organized in ‘cofradias’ (brotherhoods), to carry one paso.
8 – Some Nazarenes walk barefoot with shackles and chains for up to 14 hours. Many a tourist from the US has been shocked by the appearance of Nazarenes due to their similarities to the infamous Ku Klux Klan, but in fact, the KKK modelled their look on these Catholic traditions.
9 – Mexico City’s Iztapalapa organizes one of the largest processions in the world, where up to 3 million people take part in the Passion plays.
10 – In Bolivia, thousands make a 150 km pilgrimage over just two days from La Paz to the Copacabana Sanctuary on the shores of Lake Titicaca.
Copacabana, Bolivia.
11 – In Latin America, ‘alfombras de aserrín’ (rugs traditionally made of colored sand, flowers, and fruits) usually cover the streets where processions pass.
12 – In Spain, ‘torrija’ is traditionally enjoyed during Semana Santa. This is a Spanish take on French bread, somewhat akin to bread and butter pudding. It is made with old bread, dipped in milk, sugar, and eggs, and often fried in olive oil.
13 – Ecuadorians eat ‘fanesca’, a bean and grain soup with a fish base, only during Semana Santa.
14 – The color purple plays a significant role in the Christian religion during Semana Santa; it is related to suffering.
Blessings to all for a truly joyful and commemorative Semana Santa! And speaking of blessings…let’s get to know a gal many of us have seen around town for many years…KIRSTEN LOVATO!
Marco~ ¡Hola, amiga! Thank you for meeting with me today so our readers can get to know you better. Please tell us a bit about where you are from and how you made your way to Rocky Point.
Kirsten~ Well, I grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah, and lived many years of my life there with my husband, Nick, and two sons, Beau and Ike (24 and 27 years old now). We own a mortgage brokerage in Salt Lake City and truly wanted a beach life to go along with our time in Utah. We looked all around Mexico and many, many beach towns and communities, and finally came to Rocky Point on October 13, 2020.
Marco~ Wow, you know the exact date of arrival in town. It clearly must have been memorable.
Kirsten~ Yes, for sure! We signed a contract on our first visit to town, and the condo was in the construction phase, but we had it delivered to us in 2022. We realized that Rocky Point really checks all the boxes with its flexibility with different options to purchase, especially with price range and financing, compared to other parts of Mexico, where it is basically cash sales. Many other parts of Mexico do not offer builder financing, so it really opens up so many people to be living their Mexican dream here on the beach! I also love that you can drive here, so you always have your flexibility of the time you wish to come and leave, and also that hurricane insurance is not required here, which is quite expensive in other parts of Mexico.
Marco~ SAME!!! I called my brother Paulie back East, and he flew out to see us, and we decided to come down and look into buying one together. We came and ended up with THREE…one for my family, one for his family, and one for my brother Jeff’s family. Describe for us your ideal day in Rocky Point.
Kirsten~ Waking up and having coffee on the patio, chillaxing and hanging out with my favorite humans…we are usually hanging out on the beach. I truly love the beach here with all of its tidal pools and marine life, which you can see every day!
Marco~ Ah, I love my beach strolls through the tidal pools as well! What else do you like about Rocky Point?
Kirsten~ Well, I love all the music festivals we have in town, like January Jam and Circus Mexicus and all the others. I love that we can find live entertainment any day of the week.
Marco~ Yes, indeed! My favorite days are those with no plans and just go with the flow with friends and bebop around town with them, meeting new friends and checking out the amazing bands that seem to be in every restaurant and bar around town! What are some of your favorite restaurants and bars around town?
Kirsten~ Pane e Vino, Chef Mickey’s, Leo’s, and Los Canales, to name a few for sure.
Marco~ Check, check, check, and check, or in my case, is it Czech? How do you find the weather here in Rocky Point?
Kirsten~ October is my favorite month as it is not high season and the weather is just amazing. Actually, the weather really is quite amazing 10-11 months of the year. 😊
Marco~ Yes, me too…especially October 7th! What are some of your favorite places to travel to and why?
Kirsten~ I usually like to be around water, so really anywhere where there is water. I do love the culture of Europe, and I really love vacations where there are activities. I love Nashville as well as Spain. I like to go on private tours rather than large group tours and find some more private spaces.
Marco~ Love traveling!!! It is the best! So, you are a real estate agent here in Rocky Point at Encantame Soleil. What do you like best about your clients?
Kirsten~ Well, my clients become friends through the buying process. The people I have met through their purchases have been amazing, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve them. I literally have clients from around the globe!
Marco~ Nice, yes, I agree, if you love your job, then it shows, and your clients DO become friends. Is it true that over 250 condos have been sold in Encantame Resorts?
Kirsten~ Over 250 in Encantame Soleil have been sold. Next door at Encantame Towers, hundreds more have been sold.
Marco~ Wow, who knew? I guess you can just do the math…25 stories times the # of condos on a floor and three buildings…ok, I need a tequila…my school days are over! Where do you see Rocky Point in 10 years?
Kirsten~ I can see us having a functional airport, and the growth keeps going and going. Some people don’t like change, but it is inevitable with how popular Rocky Point has become.
Marco~ Do you fish or go boating in town?
Kirsten~ Yes, any chance I can get to go out on a boat or a catamaran, that is awesome! There’s always a fun time to be had on a boat. The sunsets here in Rocky Point are just the best!
Marco~ I could not agree more! Is there anything else you would like to share with our Rocky Point Times readers?
Kirsten~ Yes, if you are looking for a wise investment opportunity in real estate here in Rocky Point, I am the gal to help you make that happen. You can reach me at 801-652-7906, as I would be delighted to show you what we have to offer and help you realize your Mexican home ownership dreams.
Thank you, Kirsten…She is truly one of the nicest gals in town…she always has a smile to share! Cheers to everyone for a blessed Semana Santa and extra special April…Happy Birthday, Mrs. Pea 😊!!!
ADIOS AMIGOS
GOD BLESS
Marco
