We’ve survived Hilary! The storm has just passed, and all is getting back to normal. Labor Day holiday weekend is upon us and that typically signals an end to summer, but here in Peñasco we still have at least a month of humidity and heat left to endure. Sometimes we get lucky and the weather breaks early in October, but for a few years now it seems to wait until the end of the month. I may have to change my favorite months to November and May! Not much to report for August – tourism is still great, construction is clipping along at a steady pace – buildings and new developments are popping up all over town, businesses are thriving and even staying open throughout the summer.
October always kicks off our busy season, but we have some events going on in September like the AMPI tourism event planned for the end of the month so be sure you’re in town for that! I’m looking forward to seeing the Tohono O’Odham performance. I’ve harvested saguaro fruit with a few of their elders and have visited their sacred Quitobaquito Springs to see the pupfish many times in the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. (OPCNM is an interesting place to check out on your way to or from Rocky Point – or if you’re here for a while and want to take a day trip.)
Next month we’ll be happy to welcome back Naomi Black and the Mermaid’s Market. No dates set as of this writing, but we’ll get them posted as soon as we know. And as a reminder – November is always our big Annual Rocky Point Motorcycle Rally so get your reservations made because it is surely going to be packed this year.
I would like to give a huge shout out to Intercam Bank located on Blvd. Fremont. If you’re looking to open any kind of bank account, I highly recommend them. Having banked in Puerto Peñasco for the last 30 years, we have had an account at every bank in town – at one time or another – and going to the bank has always been the stuff nightmares are made of. Less so now with automation, kiosks and modern technology, but more so with the anti-money laundering laws and ridiculous hoops you have to jump through to get some really simple things accomplished…maybe it’s just me! Our bank for sure don’t like my signature, but at least they stopped rejecting every single check I signed like they used to! While we’ve been with our current bank for umpteen years, I was looking to open an account anywhere but there, and after visiting most of the banks in town, Intercam was the winner hands down. The entire transaction was like opening the doors for the first time after the weather breaks in Peñasco – you know what I’m talking about…ahhh. Quick, easy, everyone was so pleasant, they communicated via WhatsApp so I didn’t have to sit and wait, the bank was peaceful and not packed full of people with a line out the door, and I didn’t have to wait 2 hours to be told no, after the previous two people had told me yes. Oh, and they have fun, artsy ATM machines and plenty of parking!
Over the summer we had some issues with people ending up in the middle of their desert thinking they were taking a shortcut. They said they were following their map app and I don’t know about that, but just keep in mind that no dirt roads lead to Peñasco. Whether you’re coming up from Caborca or Santo Tomas or in from Phoenix, Tucson or California – ALL roads you want to take are paved…with potholes but paved. We all checked our variety of map apps on both OS’s and no one came up with any dirt road shortcuts, but I guess it has to be mentioned. And thanks to Cruz Roja for assisting all of the stranded travelers who found “shortcuts” – make sure you always drop some coins into their donation boxes.
Hope everyone has a safe and relaxing Labor Day and if you’re in town on the 15th and 16th make sure you join in on Mexico’s Independence Day festivities. Definitely see you at the beach or the nearest air-conditioned cantina!
