BajaNomad

Feria del Mar...Bahia Tortugas festival

shari - 6-2-2007 at 10:12 AM

The first annual governers Feria del Mar was a huge sucess. As usual the road was graded (governor thing) but still is super knarly and LONG! It was 3 hours from Asuncion along the arroyo road(the short cut). They are paving and have paved about 30 miles coming into Tortugas which a big relief. The Opening Ceremonies were festive with lots of good entertainment, coronation of the queen (a beauty from Asuncion), music, fokloric dance, break dancing,and a dance later.

The best part was the FOOD...there were stands from each cooperative on this part of the coast and each offered samples of their products...so we gorged ourselves on abalone, caracol, fresh oysters, ceviche, octopus, tuna...a real variety, even wine tasting! ALL FREE..also there were displays of arts & crafts.

And lots of really drunk people...beer tents, all the coops were given the days off work so it was fun for all the fishermen from the coast here to get together...lots of cool pick ups and loud music. Due to bad weather there were also a dozen tuna boats anchored and several sailboats.We camped on Playon which is about 3 miles from town.

The next morning the derby started at 7:00 am, a cool overcast morning and lots of dreary eyed hungover participants. I thought it strange that only a few of the pangas went out

Supposedly they were to return arond 2:00 but the first panga arrived at 9:00?? We learned that the fishermen from Turtle Bay left from pta.Eugenia (where they knew the bite was only good very early, whereas it took our boys an hour and a half to get there) So many participants were peeved and cried FOUL when they found out the locals had such a huge advantage...none of the boats that left from town got anything...the prize fish were all caught before 7:30 that morning( some say they had the big fish on ice from the day before!) so there was alot of grumbling about the organization...not fair...all teams should have to depart from the same beach at the same time.

Stay tuned for Part 2...the surf contest...



[Edited on 6-2-2007 by shari]

queenfurel (Small).jpg - 32kB

pics

shari - 6-2-2007 at 10:45 AM

trying again to post pics

fishermen (Small).jpg - 47kB

DianaT - 6-2-2007 at 11:04 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by shari
The next morning the derby started at 7:00 am, a cool overcast morning and lots of dreary eyed hungover participants. I thought it strange that only a few of the pangas went out

Supposedly they were to return arond 2:00 but the first panga arrived at 9:00?? We learned that the fishermen from Turtle Bay left from pta.Eugenia (where they knew the bite was only good very early, whereas it took our boys an hour and a half to get there) So many participants were peeved and cried FOUL when they found out the locals had such a huge advantage...none of the boats that left from town got anything...the prize fish were all caught before 7:30 that morning( some say they had the big fish on ice from the day before!) so there was alot of grumbling about the organization...not fair...all teams should have to depart from the same beach at the same time.


Doesn't sound fair---if this is an annual event, will it always be there or will it move from town to town?

Glad you had a good time.

Diane

[Edited on 6-2-2007 by jdtrotter]

shari - 6-2-2007 at 11:11 AM

this new event will rotate communities every year. Next year it will be in bahia Asuncion so we are taking a look at the errors made here so we can make ours a better fair next year. Today was the public fishing derby...I wonder how many left from Pta. Eugenia?? or if everyone had to leave from town.

DianaT - 6-2-2007 at 11:15 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by shari
this new event will rotate communities every year. Next year it will be in bahia Asuncion so we are taking a look at the errors made here so we can make ours a better fair next year. Today was the public fishing derby...I wonder how many left from Pta. Eugenia?? or if everyone had to leave from town.


Can't think of a better place to have it next year. :yes::yes::yes:

Diane