Text by: Romana Lilic
Photos: LA76 Strategic Design & Photography
Published in: ESCAPES #7

“I BELIEVE in an emotional architecture.”, once said one of Mexico’s most influential architects, Luis Barragán. Barragán reinvented Mexican modern architecture with sensuous aesthetics, vivid colors, attention to spaces and light, while accentuating the building’s natural surroundings. Emotional or sensual architecture is just how we could describe the style of San Jose del Cabo’s new contemporary home by acknowledged Mexican architects Javier Gutiérrez Toscano and Antonio Plá from ColectivoMX.

Casa Gavión evokes an emotional reaction at your first encounter. The impact of its massive proportions, volumes, forms, textures and colors will not leave you unmoved, guaranteed. Before continuing to explore its spaces indoors and outdoors, we recommend that you take off your flip flops, as this home is best enjoyed barefoot. Then stretch your arms, open your hands, and get ready for a flood of sensations. Casa Gavión is literally a sensational home.

In an awarded architectural studio ColectivoMX, well known for their regionalism in home design, they had four principles in mind during the creation of this impressive nature conscious home; passive pollution of the area by using regional materials and local labor force during the construction, sensibility of the materials by using different textures and reinterpreting their usage, integrating the indoor and outdoor spaces, and thus maximizing the usage of the space, while keeping the home user friendly with low maintenance costs.

The concept of the home is based on its residents and the enjoyment of all the spaces, where exterior becomes equally important as interior, complimenting the great weather of Baja California Sur. All the spaces in Casa Gavión are looking to the exterior, with each room having its own garden or terrace.

Dining and living room open to the large terrace and patio with the pool and lounge area. Bedroom on the ground level looks to the cardon cactus patio, and the kitchen opens to the stone patio and the garden. Both master bedrooms on the 1st floor each have their own terrace, and on the 2nd floor there is a large terrace with 360 C views of the Sea of Cortez, adjacent golf courses and the majestic mountains, ideal for sipping wine at sunset and star gazing.

The key characteristic of this home and the essence for its name is the rock wall, “gavión”. While you will notice gavión at the sides of the federal highway between San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, the architect reinterpreted its use and its excellent isolation features to protect the spaces in the home from the sun while at the same time making it function as blinds, letting the air through the wall and cooling the area.

The advantage of owning a home in Baja is being able to live inside and outside at the same time. When walking around, you will notice that this home is without windows: pocket doors have been built throughout the home, so when you are in, you can have them wide open and enjoy the fresh breeze, the salty ocean smell and the birds singing. Windows in Casa Gavión function as a security asset: you use your windows when you are not using your home. The orientation of the home, cross ventilation, pergolas and a rock wall ensure isolation within the home and eliminate the need to use the air-conditioning.

Eternal summer was one of the reasons for different textures, implemented in this home. Rock wall, pebble stones, gypsum, stucco, rustic plaster, fine plaster and wood are only some of the materials you will enjoy while walking around barefoot. In the main patio alone you can experience fine grass, beach sand, water, stucco and rustic plaster, which you can enjoy depending on your feelings and desires. Let your children play in the house and see how impressed by the textures they will be. The architect’s daughters are walking around barefoot with their hands stretched out, touching and feeling everything that surrounds them with great joy.

In the past, hearing the term “ecological home” we used to think of high construction and high maintenance costs. Luckily, with  advances in technology, acceptance of the eco standards world wide and with it also lower implementation prices, Javier Gutierrez confirms that the construction costs of this home didn’t exceed the construction cost of any regular home.

The home has been planed and prepared to help you save energy and money, while protecting the nature at the same time. Prepared system for solar energy will help greatly reduce the consumption of electricity. Grey water usage system is installed and ready to use. Ingenious planning of the pool, consisting of dipping pool, swimming pool and jacuzzi reduces the water consumption generally used in homes with pools. Besides that, the roof, which is the largest source of heat to any house, is isolated with thick high density foam, thus reducing the need for AC.

Hard to comprehend for anyone having experienced the summers in Baja, but proven true, is that in Casa Gavión you don’t need to use air-conditioning, even in the hottest summer months. The cross-ventilation, isolation, the mix of indoor and outdoor spaces, open pocket doors, ventilators and breeze assure a fresh wind through all the living areas. Even though, air-conditioners are set for days or moments too hot to handle.

Casa Gavión is truly a sensational home. It will tickle your senses and bring out emotions, every day, guaranteed.

*Casa Gavión is FOR SALE. Contact us for a brochure and to schedule a tour: escapes@cbriveras.com.

See the full photo gallery from our photo shoot:

Casa Gavion, San Jose del Cabo – Images by Romana Lilic @LA76

Read an article about Casa Shelly, an awarded home by architectural studio ColectivoMX.

This article is re-published from CNN website, as we find it crucial for our readers.

By Robert Reid, Special to CNN

* Popular tourist spots are largely removed from drug violence, Robert Reid say. * Reid feels the U.S. is “fortunate, not cursed” to be so close to Mexico. * In most of central and southern Mexico, drug violence isn’t on the radar of daily life *

Editor’s Note: Robert Reid is Lonely Planet’s New York-based U.S. travel editor and host of the 76-Second Travel Show.

New York (CNN) — Mexico tourism is having a bit of a PR problem lately.

Reports of mass grave sites, daylight shootings and carjackings from the escalating drug war don’t exactly build confidence for a family planning a week’s holiday. And on April 22, the U.S. State Department upgraded its travel warnings to target 14 of Mexico’s 31 states.

Now’s not the time to visit our southerly neighbor, right? Well, wrong. Mexico is a lot safer than you may realize.

We tend to lump all of Mexico — a country the size of Western Europe — together. For example, a border incident resulted in the death of a Colorado tourist last year, and the Texas Department of Homeland Security recommended against travel to all of Mexico.

Yet it’s in the 17 of 31 states not named in the newly expanded warnings where you’ll find the most rewarding destinations: the Yucatan Peninsula and Baja California beach resorts, colonial hill towns like the ex-pat haven of San Miguel de Allende, even the capital Mexico City.

Mexican protesters march to end drug war

An hour inland from Cancun’s beaches, Yucatan state — home to the most popular Mayan sites and “real Mexican” colonial cities such as Merida and Valladolid — is among the country’s safest. The state, with roughly the same population as Kansas, saw two drug-related deaths in 2010. Wichita, Kansas, alone had six gang-related killings over the same period.

Lonely Planet: 8 top places to (safely) visit in Mexico now

In most of central and southern Mexico, drug violence simply isn’t on the radar of daily life. “It’s as easy-going as it’s always been,” said Deborah Felixson, a diving operator on Cozumel who is “shocked” when people say they had been scared to go to the Caribbean island. “We’re just small communities here. We all know what everyone’s up to.”

That sentiment is found even in places once linked with political tension, such as Chiapas state and Oaxaca City, where political protest turned into a stand-off in 2006.

“Things are so much quieter now,” said Rogelio Vallesteros, who runs a Spanish-language school in Oaxaca City. “People call to ask about safety all the time, then they come and see how quiet it is. We’re normal, really.”

Mexico tourism official: Vacation spots far removed from violence

After the swine-flu crisis of 2009 — when some cruise ships diverted routes from Mexican ports that had no reported cases to American ones that did — travel bounced back a bit last year. Interestingly, the increase of returning Canadians and many Western Europeans doubled that of the American rate. We seem to remain particularly leery of Mexico.

That’s sad. My love of travel began with childhood visits to Mexican ruins and beaches, and I feel the U.S. is fortunate, not cursed, to be so close to a place that offers jungles, deserts, volcanoes, beaches, coral reefs, ancient pyramids, living pre-European cultures and some of the world’s most satisfying cuisines.

And of course the best reason to go: the people.

A couple years ago, I informally polled various innkeepers and tour operators worldwide to find out who are the world’s friendliest travelers. Guess who won. “Mexicans are such a joy to have here,” one Bulgarian guesthouse owner e-mailed back. “They make everyone feel happier.”

And it’s often better in Mexico, where locals show particular gusto in love of life. Once I saw fireworks go off in Mexico City, before sunset, and asked a local why. He was surprised I didn’t know. “It’s Friday,” he explained.

In restaurants, strangers seeing each other’s eyes instinctively say “buen provecho” before eating. It’s an earnest wish that their food should not only be tasty, but really pleasurable, and that the hope that their life will be a bit better as a result. There really is no English equivalent. Even our adopted “bon appétit” pales in significance.

Naturally, crime exists everywhere in Mexico.

I’ve been pickpocketed in Guadalajara (and in New York, too). But that’s the extent of my unpleasant scrapes in a dozen visits that have taken me to home-stay language courses, traditional Mayan markets, mummy museums, cenotes (surreal limestone sinkholes in which you can swim) and even Zapatista zones in the south.

Most travel to Mexico, ultimately, is simply good travel. It’s fun, affordable, eye-opening and fascinating (seriously, what other city of 21 million other than Mexico City is founded on a filled-in lake?).

But, no, you don’t have to visit Mexico. And there are certainly places, like Ciudad Juarez or Tamaulipas state, I’d never visit now. Just know that the Mexico experienced on the ground almost never matches the Mexico we increasingly see and read about.

By: Adriana Dupinet, Leslie Bost, ONE Happenings

Photos: Francisco Estrada, Photoamore

Every culture and country has its own way of celebrating two souls in love. In Mexico, there are specific traditions that have defined our culture for many years, traditions that to this day, are prevalent in our society. Mexican wedding traditions are a result of a combination of cultures: Indigenous groups, such as the Huicholes, Tarahumaras, Mayas, and mostly Aztecs and then the clash of Spanish influences with the Catholic religion.

Picture-perfect locations, beautiful weather all year long, immaculate beaches and stunning nature make Baja California Sur as one of the most wanted wedding-states of Mexico. In Baja Sur the Mexican wedding traditions mix with the culture and traditions of the wedding couple, which make the weddings here even more unique and special. If you are planning your wedding in Baja California Sur, we invite you to embrace some of the traditions of our land described below and include them in your ceremony. The spirit of Mexico will thus always be with you.

Mexicans have extremely strong family values and most families are large. Having a large number of guests, for Mexicans, is extremely important and almost unavoidable. Mexicans believe that it is important to share their special day with all of their loved ones and friends and even friends of friends, so that everyone can be witness to their love and commitment. Some of the guests are chosen as ‘Godparents’ of the wedding and contribute to the event in different ways, whether being the ‘godparent’ of the cake, music, location, etc. This deed demonstrates affection for the couple, by paying for these things. It is a matter of great respect to be chosen as a godparent, as godparents are considered to be wise and experienced in love and marriage and can give advice to the couple not only in the planning process, but during their marriage and life together.

A large percentage of Mexicans wed in a traditional Catholic ceremony. Catholic ceremonies in Mexico also assign ‘godparents’, which are usually close friends or family of the couple. These ‘godparents’ have different responsibilities during the ceremony such as: velación (Vigil Godparents), lazo or lasso, rings, coins, rosmary & bible and lastly, the madrina or matron of the bouquet. Each godparent has a specific job during the catholic mass and each honor has a specific significance. Let us talk of these Mexican traditions found during the mass of each catholic wedding.

The Velación or Vigil godparents are the most important godparents during the mass. The godparents, preferably family members, must be married by the Catholic Church and not divorced, as they will watch over the new couple. They are an example to follow by; and one who can always give advice to the new couple. They must carry two candles, one candle each, which will be lit with the churches candle when the Priest indicates. They also sign the churches wedding certificate as witnesses of the marriage.

The godparents of the Lasso put the lasso around the couple’s neck in the shape of an eight. The Lasso signifies the union of the two in an unbreakable bond of love and trust. At the end of the ceremony, the lasso is removed by the godparents of the lasso or by the priest and is given to the bride, who will cherish it as it represents that the bride is now the owner of the grooms heart and symbolically, of their home.

During the vow exchange, the Groom gives to the Bride 13 golden coins which symbolize the financial responsibility for the new family; they symbolize all the wealth and material possessions that the groom gives to his bride, as a mark of his unquestionable trust and confidence in her. The acceptance of the coins by the bride, in turn symbolizes her consent to maintain his trust and take care of him and his belongings with utmost devotion. Each coin is for every month of the year and the 13th is for good luck. It is also believed that the 13th coin symbolizes the extra income a family will have and that they will share with the poor and the needy.

During the ceremony, the bride & groom must kiss a crucifix and a bible to show their loyalty to one and other and once the bride & groom have proclaimed their vows of fidelity, they exchange their rings, which are placed on the ring finger. The rings are carried by the godparents of the rings and given to them when the Priest indicates. The rings usually have the names of the bride and groom inscribed inside, as well as the date of the marriage. Tradition dictates that the rings will be worn until death do them part; they are a promise of eternal love that the couple makes before God and before the guests the day of their wedding. An interesting fact is that the ring finger (4th ringer on the left hand) became such, because it is believed that the vein that runs through that finger goes straight to the heart. The throwing of the rice at the end of the mass now a day is substituted by flower petals or bubbles and symbolizes the good predictions to form a family.

Mexican Bride has three bouquets. The Matron of the Bouquet carries the 1st bouquet; this Matron must be single and signify purity, as her bouquet is given to the bride at the end of the ceremony so that the bride can offer it to the Virgin of Guadalupe as a symbol of respect and purity and to obtain the blessing of their marriage. The main bouquet is the one the Bride holds during the wedding and the third bouquet is the one that she tosses during the party. The bouquet is not strictly a Mexican tradition, but it is important to mention that the flowers represent fertility of the couple and it is believed that the foliage pushes away bad spirits that day.

The veil plays an important role during the ceremony, besides complementing the clothing and over all look, it symbolizes the purity and chastity of the bride. In old times the veil would be removed until the end of the celebration and thus the groom would kiss the bride and receive her purity.

In terms of music, the traditional Mariachis have to be part of the party! The Mariachis can start during the church or at the end of the mass or even during the party to mark the start or finish of the reception. During the reception, in some Mexican weddings, specifically in small towns of Mexico, the bride dances around the guest and each guest places on her dress or veil bills of money with pins. This wishes the happy couple good luck financially as well as helping the bride & groom have some extra spending money for their honeymoon. Additionally, the dance called ‘Vibora de la Mar’ is danced where the bride & groom lead all the guests to dance behind them like a train.

Mexican weddings are so long, that many times the party goes until sunrise, so usually a second dinner is served through the night called a ‘tornaboda‘ and consists of snacks or plated traditional meals usually spicy like tamales, tacos or chilaquiles.

Mexico is a country full of culture and traditions; we have shared only a couple of them with you today, and we welcome you to read more about weddings in Mexico, and especially in Baja California Sur, in our wedding planner column.

We would like to give thank you for people who helped make this beautiful weddings photo shoot:
- One Happenings Weddings & Events, Adriana Dupinet y Leslie Bost, Wedding Planners & Principals. www.onehappenings.com
- PhotoAmore, Francisco Estrada, Photography http://www.photoamore.com
- Blanc Salon, Neysa Berman, Bridal hair and make-up artist http://www.neysaberman.com
- The brides & groom: Lilian Yberri, Neysa Berman & Kevin McCaleb
- Dresses: Cymbeline (Lilian Yberri)
- Mexican Trio: Los Mosquitos

Locations:
- Rancho Las Guacamayas
- Capella Pedregal Hotel & Resort, http://www.capellapedregal.com
- Aeropuerto Internacional de Cabo San Lucas (International Airport in Cabo San Lucas): www.acsl.com.mx
- Hotel Guaycura, http://www.guaycura.com.mx

The history of the Mexican people, its culture, traditions and heroes is very rich. Its hues denote the strength, bravery and courage of those who have written it. This year, in 2010, Mexico is jubilantly celebrating the Bicentennial of the Independence of Mexico, as well as the First Century of the Mexican Revolution. Two events marked by a thirst for change, written with the passion and blood of those who fought for their ideals in pursuit of a better country.

Taken together, these events led to the formation of governments and laws that guarantee the rights of freedom, education, health and job for everyone in Mexico. Let us briefly review these events.

Mexican Independence.

On the evening of September 15th 1810, the bells at Dolores Hidalgo rang loudly while a group of Mexican idealists summoned their fellow Mexicans to rise against the Spaniards. This event known as the Grito de Independencia, lead to a series of events that lasted 11 years, but at the end showed the way to Mexican Independence from Spain.

Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla was the mastermind and leader of this movement. With a group of intellectual Mexicans they all dreamed of a free and independent nation. Months after the movement began, and after several victories of the insurgent army, during a battle the Spaniards arrested several leaders, including Hidalgo, and executed them in 1811. Prior to their capture, Hidalgo had instructed the priest Jose Maria Morelos to lead the movement in the south resulting in success during the following years. By the end of 1815, Morelos was captured, prosecuted and executed. Nonetheless, the movement continued with the patriots Guadalupe Victoria and Vicente Guerrero, who rallied Mexicans and Creoles (Mexican-born but of Spanish descendants) to their cause.

Almost towards the end of these fighting years, General Agustin de Iturbide resigned from the Spanish ranks to support the insurrecting army, and at the beginning of 1821, met with Vicente Guerrero. Together they proclaimed the Iguala Plan, a plan whose interest focused on 3 important points: to establish the Independence of Mexico from Spain, declare the Catholic religion as the sole religion and to integrate all the social groups.

The result of this plan and of the past years of insurrection concluded with the marching of the Trigarante Army (Army of the Three Guarantees) into Mexico City on September 27th 1821, the day when Mexico was declared an independent country.

Mexican Revolution

The so longed Mexican independence brought a series of governants periods in which the nation grew, but with many gaps in the social and cultural areas. The political atmosphere before the revolution was of a dictatorship from the Oaxacan military Porfirio Díaz. It is undeniable the growth Mexico had during Díaz’s leadership, but his autocracy of over 30 years also brought the discontent of all the classes, since the social inequality was a palpable factor.

The Mexican Revolution began on November 20th, 1917, as a socially armed movement against the unjust social situation that prevailed in the country. It was led by Francisco I. Madero whom amongst other things, was looking to overthrow the dictatorship of Diaz, the establishment of democratic elections and restore the land of the Mexican peasants that was taken away from them during the last years. When Diaz realized the movement was growing, he submitted his resignation and went into exile to France, dying a few years after.

The conflict extended during several years more, where revolutionaries like Emiliano Zapata, Francisco Villa and Venustiano Carranza led the Mexicans by defending their ideals, and the interests of the people. It was in 1917 when Carranza became president of the country, but the much desired peace was not practical until after 1920. It is since then that Mexico has walked the path of independence and began its development as a productive and equitable nation.

The main result of the Mexican Revolution is reflected in the drafting and enactment of the current Mexican Constitution, ratified by the Constituent Congress on February 5th 1917, originally based on the constitution of 1857. Its articles contain major reforms on the social order as well as the individual rights of all Mexicans, including freedom of association, strike, education and regulation of the property.

The history of Mexico is ever changing, evolving and growing. These two representative movements have marked the path to where the nation is going. Each and every one of its participants, good or bad, have come to reinforce the idea of a strong, active and constantly learning society. And now, two hundred years later, we are the leaders of Mexico through our actions and decisions. Take the example of those who gave their lives to defend our rights and let us build together a better present. Meanwhile, let’s all say: Viva Mexico!

By / Por: Romana Lilic
Photos: / Fotos: LA76

Dwelling proudly at the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur, like a gift of nature, Todos Santos is one of the most picturesque Baja towns. It is a place where natives and new locals joyfully share the town’s beauty with curious visitors, searching to discover Todos Santos’s secret of pure living: from surfing and swimming beaches, colorful streets, and cheerful festivals honoring Mexican culture and tradition, to sel-indulgence enjoyed at gourmet restaurants and arts and crafts displayed at myriad of local galleries admired by many. Our trip was aimed at finding not what was hidden, but that which was visible only to those who were ready to discover a real treasure; an exotic paradise, hidden in the middle of the desert.

Despite its desert location, Baja California Sur is a place where you can discover a vast variety of different microclimates just by crossing a river, hill, or arroyo. Todos Santos almost imitates a Mediterranean climate where you are able to discover an unimaginable variety and abundance of plants and fruits you never thought you would be able to encounter in Baja.

Personally enchanted by the mesmerizing beauty of orchids and longing for my own orchid sanctuary, an orchid’s exhibition at the annual Todos Santos Art Festival lead me to search for a man exhibiting these beautiful plants. After a letter of introduction, Mr. Heriberto Parra Hake, agronomic engineer, who specializes in botanicals, is an orchid lover, an owner of a plant nursery and a promoter of Todos Santos culture, invited ESCAPES to visit his garden. This garden proved to be a true Garden of Eden on Earth, boasting exotic plants, fruits, flowers, noche buenas (Christmas flower, called Poinsettia in English), and not the least, an impressive private collection of orchids.

For many, an orchid is a symbol of unattainable perfection. Its beauty is immaculate, its shapes unimaginable, and its color variety unmatched. The orchid is certainly the most diverse plant species, with an array of fascinating blooms. While it may appear very fragile, in wilderness it lives in the most remote and harsh places. Monarchs of the plant kingdom, orchids are arguably the largest family of flowering plants. It is estimated that there are over 30,000 different orchid species on our planet, and new species are still being discovered. On top of this, there are over 100,000 registered hybrid strains, which have been artificially produced.

Many professionals claim orchids are among the most developed plants on the planet. It is believed that with their smell, energy and micro-vibration, we can cure basic illnesses, physical, emotional and spiritual, and Heriberto shares that belief. Today we already have beauty products with orchid extracts, and I believe that sometime in the not so distant future, we will use orchids in medicine as well.

So, one would think, how could such fragile and delicate plants, which love humidity and rainy and spring-like seasons, survive in Baja with average year-round temperature 78 F and 350 sunny days? Heriberto built a special nursery for them, with sprinklers and semi-shade, which gives them optimum growing and blooming conditions. The microclimate of Todos Santos helps with it as well. Orchids are part of his personal collection and you will not be able to persuade him to sell you one. You can though (occasionally) get them in specialized flower boutiques. Orchids are exciting and deeply gratifying to grow. But, don’t say that you haven’t been warned – orchid growing may become an addiction and life-long indulgence.

Aside his private orchid garden, which Heriberto has been growing for already more than 8 years, he proudly guided us through his big garden and nursery of exotic plants and fruits. Seasonal flowers and fruits can be purchased at the nursery, and he makes fruit baskets and flower arrangements for hotels and personal orders. His wish one day is to open a flower store, featuring non conventional flowers.

If you visit Vivero Todos Santos, you will be able to indulge in:
AFRICAN VIOLETS  /  MIRACLE GLOW  /  NOCHE BUENAS IN MANY COLORS  /  GINGER  /  HELICONIA  /  COFFEE PLANT  /  MACADAMIA  /  VANILLA  /  LICHI  /  ESTRELLA  /  MARAKUYA  /  CHIRIMOYA  /  AMENA  /  POMEGRANADE  /  NISPERO  /  JACKFRUIT  /  CASHEW NUT  /  SUNFLOWER  /  DECORATIVE CABBAGE  /  GERBERAS  /  PLUMS  /  VARIOUS MANGO SPECIES  /  PALM TREES  /  BANANA TREES  /  and many, many more.

Vivero Todos Santos
Barrio La Cachora
(+52) 612 145 0225

A couple of steps from downtown Cabo San Lucas and the Marina, before entering Capella Pedregal gate and its 1,000 foot private tunnel Dos Mares carved through the mountainside, you can hardly imagine what awaits for you on the other side. Upon arrival, facing a breathtaking expanse of azure sea and sky, a friendly greeting welcomes you. You feel comforted as if stepping into the home of a cherished friend. You immediately forget where you are and what you are here for. Is this heaven? Maybe, maybe not. But after spending some time here, you will begin to wish heaven is as nice as Capella Pedregal.

Capella Pedregal is nestled in one of the most coveted pieces of land in Cabo San Lucas. It is laid on 24 beachfront acres at the southernmost tip of the Baja California Peninsula, where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez near the legendary rock formation known as Land’s End. It is the only luxury hotel and residence resort with immediate proximity to the world class Marina and just a couple of steps from downtown Cabo.

The Capella Pedregal story started more than 30 years ago with Don Manuel Díaz Rivera, an architect, visionary and family patriarch who brought his family to Cabo San Lucas in the 1970s, when it was still a small, 900 inhabitant fishing village. He was in search of a place where they could work, live and thrive together while building a dream. He purchased land that would become Pedregal de Cabo San Lucas in 1974, recognizing the great potential in its glorious views of both the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean. Several years and three generations later, the Díaz Rivera family continues to live in Pedregal and continues to build the family dream. Pedregal has become one of Cabo’s most exclusive neighborhoods with more than 340 homes built along its cobblestone streets bringing the charms of Old Mexico into the 21^st century with every modern convenience.

The community’s last untouched site of breathtaking cliffside and beachfront land with unrivaled views of Cabo San Lucas, was saved to become home of Capella Pedregal Resort and Residences, a resort development of unprecedented beauty and luxury, and the magnum opus of the Díaz Rivera family legacy.

The opening of Capella Pedregal in July 2009 introduced the esteemed Capella brand to both Mexico and North America. Capella Pedregal promises the unique benefits of the finest boutique hotels — including superb architecture and interior design, the utmost privacy, individualized service and attention to detail — combined with amenities and activities found only in the world’s great luxury hotels and resorts, available to both hotel guests and residents. Capella is a brand focused on customer choice, and offers choices that no other hotel group in the world can match.

“At Capella Pedregal, each guest will feel cared for as if he or she is at the home of a treasured friend, with every need anticipated and each wish fulfilled through our ‘sixth’ sense service,” said Peter Bowling, General Manager at Capella Pedregal. “We will always draw from the best local resources to create unforgettable, authentic Mexican experiences based on the guest’s personal interests.”

This exclusive hideaway encompasses the Capella Pedregal Yacht Club, an intimate 66-room Capella Resort and Spa: 31 shared- and full-ownership Capella Residences, 19 shared- and full-ownership Capella Casonas, and a whole ownership, six-bedroom Capella Estate Villa, all with dramatic views of the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez.

Auriga Spa is laid in the heart of Capella Pedregal, breathing in and out a pure essence of luxury living. With a name inspired by the heavens and a distinctive approach to wellness, Auriga offers much more than pampering. Its design concept and signature treatments utilize the varying energies of the lunar cycle to relax, restore and realign the mind, body and spirit. Auriga Spas are known throughout the world for their authentic representation of local healing traditions, and Auriga at Capella Pedregal is no exception with its treatments enhanced by Mexican folk healing practices and integrative wellness programs designed to enhance the lives of each guest. Once you’ve tried Auriga Spa, it will certainly become your favorite wellness retreat in Baja Sur.

Capella Pedregal offers three exclusive dining options: the casual Beach Club; El Farallon, a dramatic seaside grill with cliffside tables overlooking the crashing waves below; and Don Manuel’s, Capella’s signature fine dining restaurant. The highlight of Don Manuel’s is Su Cocina, your kitchen, which transforms itself throughout the day. In the morning it is a bustling Mexican market, where you can smell the freshly baked bread, just out of the oven and choose among a variety of fresh fruits and juices, handmade tamales steaming in a cazuela, and other Mexican specialties. After lunch Su Cocina hosts cooking classes with a hand’s on approach to learning many of the popular recipes served, and in the evening it becomes an interactive kitchen to chat with the chefs and sample daily antojitos or appetizers. “Don Manuel’s is a fine dining restaurant in terms of setting, presentation and service, but is unpretentious in the quality of the food and its casual atmosphere if you prefer to eat family style, which is really the sense of Mexico,” explains Marco Bustamante, Capella Pedregal’s Executive Chef, whose restaurant at Capella Hotel in Velden, Austria, earned a rare distinction of a Michelin star within six months of its debut.

In addition to its restaurants, 24-hour-in-room dining is offered, and Private Chef Services available to Capella residents. If you are coming back from a successful day of fishing on one of Capella yachts, the chef and his team will be more than happy to prepare the catch for you.

Capella Pedregal Yacht Club is the only Private Residence Club in the world to offer shared ownership interest in a Yacht fleet with boat slips at Cabo Marina, one of the most exclusive marinas in North America. The fleet of Viking sport fisher and cruiser yachts is available to Capella Residence, Capella Casona owners and hotel guests.

Baja culture pervades every aspect of Capella Pedregal with guestroom interiors that blend modern and traditional Mexican elements. Each hotel room boasts magnificent ocean views with a private plunge pool in every hotel room. The Casonas and Residences are oriented like sunflowers that open up themselves up to the beautiful views that surround them.

Capella Pedregal guests, who wish to experience Cabo, will find the vibrant shops, dining and entertainment of Cabo San Lucas town within easy reach by foot, bike, personal car or resort valet.  Beware though, once you have come to Capella Pedregal, you may not want to leave at all. If there is heaven, let’s hope it looks like Capella Pedregal.

Capella Pedregal Residences: www.capellacabo.com

USA Phone 866 956 7222
Mexico Phone +52 624 172 0374

Capella Pedregal Hotel & Resort: www.capellapedregal.com

USA Phone 866 973 0990
Mexico Phone +52 624 163 4300

Auriga Spa: www.auriga-spa.com

USA Phone 866 973 0990
Mexico Phone +52 624 163 4300

25 Years of Academic Excellence

Twenty-five years ago, three pioneering developers in the southern Baja started to think about how they were going to educate their children. Cabo San Lucas was then a small town that had no options that met their needs. To solve the problem, the Díaz Rivera, Coppola Joffroy, and Parr Bennett families founded Colegio El Camino, on October 4, 1983.

Thanks to the families’ combined efforts and fundraising activities, Colegio El Camino became a reality. Located near the back entrance to the Pedregal neighborhood in Cabo San Lucas, the school opened with fifteen students, four classrooms, and play areas initially without ground cover or shade.

From these beginning, Colegio El Camino has been characterized by careful attention to the details of education: personalized teaching, trained personnel, and teaching methods that encourage student participation. In 1986, the school’s first class completed elementary school, and in 1989, El Camino was the first private school in Cabo San Lucas to open a high school with certification from Mexico’s Secretary of Public Education.

Growth in enrollment was gradual. Each year, more local families entrusted their children’s education to El Camino. Once at the school, students developed the academic and personal skills that have allowed them to serve in a wide variety of professional positions.

During the past few weeks, several special activities have been dedicated to celebrating Colegio El Camino’s twenty-fifth anniversary. Festivities were kicked off by a special ceremony at the school. Attending dignitaries included Ernesto Ibarra Montoya, Municipal Delegate of Cabo San Lucas; Salvador Castro Ojeda, Head of Regional Services for the Secretary of Public Education in the Los Cabos municipality; Francisco Flores Zendejas, Supervisor of Secondary Schools in the Los Cabos municipality; Leticia Díaz Rivera, President of Colegio El Camino’s board of trustees; Alberto Coppola Joffroy, Manuel  Díaz Rivera, Marina Parr de Perdomo, members of the board of trustees; Mario Almaguer Valenzuela, representative of the school’s board of directors; and Zulma Váquez de Vizcaíno, president of the board of the parents association.

Contests were held to select a logo and video to commemorate the occasion. The winner in both categories, alum Valdir Corte, used visual images to reflect the school’s meaning: friendship, communication, honor, and above all, preparation for life.

Festivities were closed with a dinner dance attended by alumni, their parents, members of the board of trustees, and members of the board of directors. The event revolved around unforgettable memories at the institution.

Twenty-five years after its founding, Colegio El Camino is proud to have prepared seventeen graduating classes, earning the distinction as one of the best schools in the southern Baja.

by Cristina Chowath

The article was originally published in ESCAPES #2, you can see it online here.

Try to describe Mexico in five words. If you ask Mexican, the answer would probably be something like “colors, flavor, history, people, traditions”, but if you ask the same question to a visitor on Baja streets, you might hear something like “beach, party, tequila, tacos, silver”. Mexico has many faces, flavors and treasures. In each town or Mexican state you can find different most representative characteristics. But one of them, common to the whole country, is silver.

Mexico has been commercializing silver on and off ever since the country was discovered by Cortes in 1521. Between 1600 and 1800, Bolivia, Peru and Mexico grew to produce about 85% of the world’s silver production. With the War of Independency in Mexico, many Spanish barons destroyed their mines before they were taken by the revolutionaries. Afterwards, the ancient art of silver was forgotten for a while. It was brought back by Mr. William Spratling (American born, but Mexican resident) in the late 1920’s when he arrived to Taxco, a charming colonial city with cobblestone streets and red tiled rooftops in the state of Guerrero, to study Mexico and its culture.

He visualized the potential of silver and saw the talent of local artisans, motivating them to develop their skills and to teach youngsters about the beauty of silver craftsmanship. Their creations and quality of work was soon noticed around the world, making Taxco the most renowned producer of silver in Mexico, widely known also as Mexico’s “Silver city”. In 1953, to honor the silver artisans, Mexico’s president declared the last weekend in November as National Silver Day (Feria Nacional de la Plata). Today, Mexico is one of the top five producers of silver in the world; much of it comes from famous mining districts in Zacatecas, Durango, Guerrero and others.

Also in Baja, where you can find many beautiful and inviting silver jewelry stores, we boast with history of silver mining. The silver mines near San Antonio were worked in 1784, and the Baja California Sur happened from 1850 to 1890. The most productive silver mine was called El Triunfo de la Cruz, giving the birth to a mining town of El Triunfo. The silver in fact was so attractive that it brought to the south of Baja many workers, which within a few years formulated a city with a population of 10,000. El Triunfo was then the largest city in the south and briefly served as the capital of Baja California Sur in 1828 and 1829.

Gradually, the quality of the dig declined. In 1918 the hurricane flooded the mine, there were tries to resurrect the operation, but it was finally abandoned in 1926. If you would like to explore more, visit San Antonio and El Triunfo. The ruins of the silver mine are still there. You will notice huge round brick chimney jutting into the Baja sky, a reminder of the once importance of this now small village.

Since ancient times, silver has played an important role in human culture throughout the centuries: used as a currency first by some western Asian cultures, believed to have beneficial healing and anti-disease properties by Hippocrates, some silver compounds were used to prevent infection in World War I before the use of antibiotics, and so much more.

New applications for silver are being explored in areas such as water purification and solar energy. With new technologies emerging, it will come as no surprise the use of this valuable metal will expand in the future.

DID YOU KNOW?

• The word ‘silver’ appears in Anglo-Saxon as seolfor and siolfor.
• The chemical symbol Ag is taken from the Latin word for silver, argentum. Name Argentina comes from this word, too.
• The symbol of the Moon has been used since ancient times to represent silver.
• Silver coins were, and still are in many places, essential for internal and international trade. The Spanish reales containing silver, minted in Mexico and Peru, were used throughout the Americas for generations.
• United States coinage minted prior to 1965 contained 90% silver.
• The major producers of silver include the United States, Mexico, Canada, Peru, Russia and Australia.Silver can achieve the most brilliant polish of any metal.

How do you know that you are buying real silver? Always look for the seal “925”. In Mexican silver you will most of the times find another seal “Mexico” or “Mex”; and some jewelers mark their jewelry with their seal too.

To care for your silver, store the unworn silver jewelry in a sealed bag, so as not to tarnish. A silver cleaner and soft cloth will easily remove any tarnish, and small chains can be shined using dry baking soda and a toothbrush.

The ceramic plate at the entrance of this burgundy home welcomes you with a toast “Roinische”, a composition of two Gaelic words, meaning “share water”, and giving a warm welcome to every guest. Active life by the ocean, rich and colorful waters of the Sea of Cortez, friendly town and relaxing environment brought Betsy and Kevin from cold but beautiful Alaska to this piece of land south of the border, under the sun.

The story goes back to 1994, when Betsy and Kevin discovered a calm bay with beautiful sunrises and merlot sunsets. This was the place they chose to build their future home at. Previously non-inhabited area, the bay was named after Kevin’s origins, Bahia de Irlanda, or Irish Bay. Now, Bahia de Irlanda has become a small friendly neighborhood, located on the coast road to Punta Pescadero, with beautiful ocean front homes, each offering calm refuge to their dwellers.

Our hosts built their home from the scratch. When imagining their future home, they wanted a healthy house, the one which will take the advantage of everything the nature had to offer. It was therefore somehow natural that they designed it by feng shui rules; somewhat by the book, but mostly following their own intuition and common sense. And although it sounds more complicated than that, that’s what feng shui is all about.

When you enter their home, everything seems to be in place, organic and natural. Lush gardens lead you to the heart of this colorful home, full of energy and good spirits. Dog Keno welcomes you wagging the tail curiously, while cats faithfully execute their tasks; the head of the cat crowd Max will check you up by slowly opening her right eye and appearing to care less about your presence, but thanking you with gentle purr if you pet her; playful and youngest Pepperoni will be watching your step from under the chair and will approach only for play; and Rika – you will see her white coat and cat-ish appearance only when the clock ticks the feeding time.

Literally, the word feng shui means “wind” and “water”. Like wind and water, it involves movement and circulation of the energy (ch’i) through the home (or environment) so that its movement resembles a gently flowing stream or a pleasant breeze. Betsy designed their home where ch’i flows freely from an octagonal spacious room with dining area, living area and kitchen to other spaces in the inside and connects them with the outside area.

In order to enable the energy to flow, the Roinische home incorporates round corners and octagonal spaces. The house is oriented in a way to accommodate the local winds. An angled roof and windows on all sides mean that the house brings cool breezes through one end and out the other. Air-conditioning is used only seldom in this home.

When creating their home, Betsy paid special attention to colors, which play an important role in feng shui. They help enrich every area of our lives, aesthetically, psychologically and physically. Yellow is representative to the sun and its life-giving warmth. It encourages feelings of optimism and cheerfulness, which you will find plenty in the main room. Kitchen is colored in red, a color of luck, strength, activity, passion and positive energy. Green, the color of plants and associated with growth is a calming color. Betsy used it in an alternative dining room, office and game room. Main bedroom is dressed in purple, a color which by many cultures is considered a royal color, reserved for the wealthy and powerful. In some western religions it is linked with spirituality, and in China purple is considered o be a fortunate color – some say even luckier than red.

Furniture in Betsy and Kevin’s home seems a mosaic of old and new, of origins and traditions, modern time, of different cultures, habits and events, brought together from many winds. You will find pieces of furniture brought from Alaska, where Betsy and Kevin lived for 28 years, some inherited from great grand father, grand mother and parents, others brought from mainland Mexico, Guadalajara, and some handcrafted with indigenous and local artisans. Terrace boasts with a compass pointing the sides of the sky; under palapa you will find a Celtic nod, reminding of their roots. Betsy will proudly show you some great pieces of famous Corning glass, and her collection of glassware inherited from her mum, grandma and great great aunt.

Big open spaces, great energy flow, colors that boost your mood in every space, inside and outside decoration and lush gardens make the Roinische residence a very pleasant retreat. The home is strategically located next to the ocean; the mornings invite you for long walks, day ocean breezes offer diving and kite sailing trips, and at nights the sound of the waves lulls you to sleep. And as our hosts would say: it cannot get better than that!

Homes in Baja come in different shapes, styles and sizes. But they all tend to have one thing in common – an ocean view. Always the same, but always so unique, an ocean view is one of the characteristics every Baja dweller is eager to possess. We visited El Rincon, premier residential community in Pedregal de Cabo San Lucas, where, like sunflowers orient towards the sun, its homes orient toward the ocean view. Welcome in to take a view.

Terraced in the embrace of the stone mountain, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, El Rincon is located. Traditionally Mexican by its architecture, material, decoration and hospitality, and contemporary by its smart amenities, equipment, technology and ecological blend, El Rincon is a private community of 26 classy villas boasting an ocean view from every room.

Upon entering El Rincon’s model home Villa Cantamar, the ocean welcomes you already through the main glass door. Main level is actually a range of spaces, which together combine a great living area, but function perfectly also individually. First foyer – straight and right a living area with salt water aquarium – spacious kitchen with top appliances and an isle which continues to the dining room – terrace that verges through the whole length of the main floor with pool, barbecue area and fire pit– then master bedroom on the left with master bathroom, featuring inside and outside shower, steam, jetted tub, plentiful of closets and outside spa area.  

Main floor has two scenarios, where sliding glass doors have a playful feature. When open, they bring fresh ocean breeze and calming sound of the ocean to the area, offering vast space for big gatherings and entertainment with friends and family. During the day you can enjoy the views by watching the whales swim by, fisherman getting their daily catch or big cruise ships heading to another tourist destination. When closed, the doors (or you could also say windows) separate the spaces and give privacy and individuality to each of them.

Second floor features media room in the center, surrounded by three bedrooms each having its own bathroom, with ocean views included. Staircase will lead you further to the third floor, where you will find three main areas. On the right you walk into a spacious room with a terrace. One can imagine here a pool room, a big game room for children to indulge in their plays without worries, or even a wine room. Private fitness enclave is overlooking the ocean too, a great location for motivation. On the mere left, model home features a thoughtfully planned individual studio or guest suite with bedroom, bathroom, living and dining area with a kitchenette and an ocean view terrace. Studio can work as a place for your grown up children, guests or as a unit you might want to rent out.

El Rincon Villas are designed so that the principal owner can live in one level, while the other two levels can be used for your children, family and friends. The homes allow its dwellers to live together in harmony, but also each for themselves. El Rincon is where the hierarchy of life and motion is made to fit its dwellers. With lots of freedom. With worry free lifestyle. For different feelings and different generations. And with many views.

El Rincon at a glance: