BajaNomad

Serenidad Pig Roast

Islandbuilder - 2-9-2013 at 04:56 PM

We just checked in at Serenidad, and there is a pig roasting on the spit in the courtyard.
$15/person, includes all you can eat pork and ribs, tortillas, salad, Beans and tamal, plus a drink and dessert.

acadist - 2-9-2013 at 05:12 PM

Finest kind :coolup:

desertcpl - 2-9-2013 at 05:38 PM

I have stayed there several time now,, but always missed the pig roast,, sure would like to break that habit

Islandbuilder - 2-9-2013 at 07:40 PM

The food was excellent!
But only 16 guests by my count:(

A lot of folks doing a lot of work for not much money.

Our business involves keeping old machinery running, and classic old boats in top shape and having adventures. I like old stuff, and very much respect the history of places like Serenidad. It's a shame to see it sliding away, given what it was in the past, and the thousands of people that it hosted.

I hope that they can make it!

BajaBlanca - 2-9-2013 at 07:49 PM

Hello there ! I have ALWAYS wanted to do the pig roast ... we stayed at the Serenidad many moons ago ... but not for years now. Glad to hear the meal was good.

chuckie - 2-10-2013 at 08:13 AM

Not many folks here anymore, lots of places struggling...

Islandbuilder - 2-10-2013 at 08:30 AM

Too true Chuckie.

mulegemichael - 2-10-2013 at 08:30 AM

too bad about the pig feed....but....lots of disappointed folks in the past with food quality and service and the drinks just are not very high quality....we've eaten at the pig roast twice; first time it was all dried out and cold so we waited a couple of years and gave it another chance...same result......there's just too many places around town where one can get a decent meal and a stiff drink to go back for a third time....

Pescador - 2-10-2013 at 09:34 AM

Let's see, do I go to the Pig Roast and get another questionable meal with Margaritas from mix and Pork that is so-so or do I go to El Candil on Friday and get the best French dip sandwich in the world for 85 pesos and Margaritas with Controy, real lime, and tequila, or do I go to Rays and have a wonderful, top of the world Sea Food Dinner.

I would think that when I only had 16 people for a dinner that has tradition and history behind it, that I would figure out what to change to get the people back in. I think that Mulege is loaded with people right now, the stores were swamped on Saturday, the Carnitas restaurant was waiting in line for a place to sit, took 20 minutes to get to the register in Saul's store.

capt. mike - 2-10-2013 at 09:41 AM

Don's had a good run and life. His passion for work keeps him going at 86.
the US gov't and the mexican gov't have conspired to make private flying to mexico and especially the new border procedures punitive for light plane adventurers. Even as i write El Jefe of BBP/BPI is on MX DF meeting with their "FAA" and custome trying to get things changed. Mexico used to be able to count on thousands of intrepid US flyers going south for fun - not any more and too mnay food strips closed for no good reason.
i used to go monthly. Now i have no idea when i want to put up with all the BS just to fly to mex and back. that's why you see so few planes at El Gallito. Days past 20 or more would fly in just for the sat noche roast.

Yum

durrelllrobert - 2-10-2013 at 10:52 AM

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh37/durrellrobert/loreto...

desertcpl - 2-10-2013 at 12:24 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by capt. mike
Don's had a good run and life. His passion for work keeps him going at 86.
the US gov't and the mexican gov't have conspired to make private flying to mexico and especially the new border procedures punitive for light plane adventurers. Even as i write El Jefe of BBP/BPI is on MX DF meeting with their "FAA" and custome trying to get things changed. Mexico used to be able to count on thousands of intrepid US flyers going south for fun - not any more and too mnay food strips closed for no good reason.
i used to go monthly. Now i have no idea when i want to put up with all the BS just to fly to mex and back. that's why you see so few planes at El Gallito. Days past 20 or more would fly in just for the sat noche roast.




do you ever see this getting any better, I sure hope so
and it would be a great testament to the Serenidad and Don
Johnson for it to be back to the days of glory, such a great location and hotel

BajaBlanca - 2-10-2013 at 08:00 PM

Could you detail specific complaints/concerns about small aircraft coming to Mexico. Pls also add the solutions as you see them. Next time someone comes to visit who can do something about it - they will get my (your) 2 centavos.

Flying in and out of Mexico

cessna821 - 2-10-2013 at 08:21 PM

I have lived in Mulegé since 2000 and used to keep my Cessna on the Serenidad runway.

The Department of Homeland Security have made it almost impossible for private aircraft to fly outside of USA due to overly stringent border crossing requirements.

They abuse their power in every way possible and on one occasion I was threatened not only with arrest, but confiscation of my aircraft because I arrived 15 minutes earlier than my flight plan indicated. This was due to a higher than expected tailwind, but this was not accepted and I received a written warning.

I then decided to make sure that I was a little late rather than early, so on the next flight I was sure to arrive a few minutes later. I was then subjected to an hour long interrogation as to where I had illegally landed on the way and why!!

I am a British national and during these incidents I experienced more racism from American Hispanic and Asian immigration officers than I have ever experienced anywhere in the world, Russia, China and Africa included.

I regretfully hung up my headset after these experiences and now do not fly any more. I am a typical pilot, however, and can not resist looking sadly skywards as a small plane passes overhead.

dtbushpilot - 2-10-2013 at 09:45 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by cessna821
I have lived in Mulegé since 2000 and used to keep my Cessna on the Serenidad runway.

The Department of Homeland Security have made it almost impossible for private aircraft to fly outside of USA due to overly stringent border crossing requirements.

They abuse their power in every way possible and on one occasion I was threatened not only with arrest, but confiscation of my aircraft because I arrived 15 minutes earlier than my flight plan indicated. This was due to a higher than expected tailwind, but this was not accepted and I received a written warning.

I then decided to make sure that I was a little late rather than early, so on the next flight I was sure to arrive a few minutes later. I was then subjected to an hour long interrogation as to where I had illegally landed on the way and why!!

I am a British national and during these incidents I experienced more racism from American Hispanic and Asian immigration officers than I have ever experienced anywhere in the world, Russia, China and Africa included.

I regretfully hung up my headset after these experiences and now do not fly any more. I am a typical pilot, however, and can not resist looking sadly skywards as a small plane passes overhead.



X2....

Pescador - 2-10-2013 at 11:14 PM

I meant no disrespect for Don Johnson who is one of the real pioneers of the area and a well respected man. The help does not have the same pizazz that he has always shown for the pig roasts and it is small wonder that they are not the same as when he was totally running the show.


As for the flying issue, it seems that the world changed greatly after 9-11 and we may never be able to get things back again. I sometimes wonder if the 9-11 thing was not a good excuse for where the government wanted to go anyway. I am so glad that I was able to fly all over Baja and mainland Mexico when it was a true adventure and a wonderous experience. The old Senterfit book was our bible as we hopped in and out of small dirt strips with small taildraggers. Mexicali for clearance, then on to Bay of Los Angeles where you could get a little gas from Papa Fernandez, on to San Fransisquito and unwind for a couple of days, Serenidad where you could lay in the pool and soak off several days of dirt, Punta Chivato where there was only 3 or 4 houses and a great restaurant at the hotel and meeting Alvarado, Loreto where you actually had a tower to talk to and they had 80 LL for your old Citabria, and then Tembabiche where they had a little shack on the beach and we dove for lobster and caught some of the greatest Cabrilla I had ever seen, La Paz where you were back in civilization for a little while, Guererro Negro to see whales and freeze your butt off in February, and finally Santa Inez where they rolled out the carpet and you found out that Jimmy Smith was a real pilot and person.

Well, we can thank DHS for messing up that experience as well as feeling up grandma in the airport.

PCbaja - 2-11-2013 at 07:35 AM

I have been flying Baja for 15 years and continue to fly down about once a month and have had no problems. I think its gotten easier with EAPIS reporting.

capt. mike - 2-11-2013 at 10:14 AM

Pescador you are correct sir!!

LancairDriver - 2-11-2013 at 12:42 PM

Agree 100% with captmike, dtbushpilot,cessna821, and Pescador. Anyone who has enjoyed flying in Baja pre-911 could hardly feel things are more simple. It really boils down to realizing there are those who are comfortable with having the government control every aspect of their lives, calling 911, leaving your health care decisions in government hands, opening up their laptops for CBP to go fishing in, etc. and those who just want to be left alone to their own capabilities. Pre-EAPIS the system worked perfectly well going in and out of Mexico, and there is no record of any terrorists being smuggled into the country by private aircraft during this period. Just another govt. fix for something that wasn't broke to begin with.

capt. mike - 2-11-2013 at 02:22 PM

right you are George!
for me it simply is hardly worth the hassle to fly to baja anymore. And now that PEMEX raised the $$ on avgas to match or exceed USA $$ even tho mexico does not have the fed excise taxes which makes US gas so high.....it makes less sense to go south. Well at least for me based on my budget......

DavidE - 2-11-2013 at 03:25 PM

The stupid floods just cut the heart out of Mulegé IMHO. A lot of good people bailed out.

Stickers - 2-11-2013 at 03:46 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by PCbaja
I have been flying Baja for 15 years and continue to fly down about once a month and have had no problems. I think its gotten easier with EAPIS reporting.


Before the EAPIS system I would get into my airplane and fly to Mexico. That's it, didn't file a flight plan, didn't ask permission, just went.

Retuning to the U.S. I would call San Diego flight services from about 8500 feet in the area of San Felipe and inform them I would be crossing the Air Defense Zone (border) in one hour, they would assign a squawk for my transponder to identify my aircraft when crossing the border.

So, I could fly down anytime and return anytime - this gave us FREEDOM to come and go like law abiding citizens.

Now with the EAPIS system we must prefile and recieve approval for the exact time of departure and the exact time of re entering the U.S. Must also give passport numbers of all onboard and not change anything or get reamed for a $50,000 fine.

Going to Baja was always about escaping civilization for adventure. Now you must have computer access while camping on a deserted beach and know exactly to the minute when you are crossing the border. How fearful can our country get?

We used to call our planes "pleasure aircraft."

chuckie - 2-11-2013 at 06:30 PM

Its not a whole lot better for people crossing in cars/trucks. Homeland Security are the new "N-zis". For the most part Rude, Power Drunk, and proud of it. Most of us could relate instances at the border crossings where we were subject to or witnessed these things...Its shameful...And apparently we can do nothing about it....

DHS & Immigration

cessna821 - 2-11-2013 at 06:49 PM

Somewhat off Serenidad topic, but relevant nevertheless.

Having heard the above comments it comes to mind that most of us are getting a little upset with the status quo.

The general opinion seems to be that we can't do anything about it - Wrong! We can not change the system easily, but we can do something about the individuals.

One person complaining will get nowhere, but if we all start in on it we can at least put a question mark against an unpleasant officers next promotion board.

To file a complaint about staff misconduct directly to Department of Homeland Security, Office of the inspector general , you can do it:

-by calling (800) 323-8603
- by writing to:
Department of Homeland Security
245 Murray Drive, S.E., Building 410
Washington, DC 20538
Attn: Office of Inspector General

- by email to: DHSOIGHOTLINE@DHS.GOV

Islandbuilder - 2-11-2013 at 07:04 PM

We cross the border with Canada several times each year with our boat. Since we are a charter boat with paying guests aboard we have to go through the APIS system. After several years we are learning the ropes, but the process seems to change every time.
And it's not just the US, the Canadians focus on different aspects of their laws every time we cross the border.
The Port of Entry is in our small town, and all the ICE agents know who we are, but they still put on their stern faces when I walk in with my hand full of forms.
I have had pilot friends tell me the same story about being EXACTLY on time that some here have experienced.
The, I can only say, rude behavior seems to be endemic to the new ICE ethic.
My good friend was the station head in town, and he took early retirement in order to get clear before the new agenda was implemented. He now works part time as a hotel desk clerk, and has no regrets.

Islandbuilder - 2-11-2013 at 07:07 PM

What I'm trying to say is that it isn't that the agents are arrogant and rude, instead I think that is the official policy now.
The "Face of America" is these folks, and that is very sad to me.

capt. mike - 2-12-2013 at 09:31 AM

Stickers - right on man.

Keith - we [BBP/BPI and AOPA] worked for years as a big lobby and could not beat DHS CBP. Despite all the letters and open comments on the NOPRM site - the feds didn't care less and wrote/passed the rules/law.

your comments well intended but you are way late.

cessna821 - 2-12-2013 at 10:40 AM

Yes Mike you are right, as usual. It is late in the day!

The thing that peeves me is how America is becoming, and I say this as a Brit, whose great, great grandfather became an American citizen.

Those folk, the Pioneers, came from Europe to a magnificent wilderness and turned it into the greatest country the world has ever seen! They would be upset to see it now.

capt. mike - 2-12-2013 at 12:49 PM

Keith you are so very right!

Floatflyer - 2-13-2013 at 07:01 AM

Stickers, your comments about having to file an Eapis with the exact minute of departure, etc, is just the opposite of what I have been doing since the inception of Eapis.

You only have to prefile and NOT depart/cross the border BEFORE your stated time. I routinely would get ready to depart, say the Sernidad, go online and file. Virtually instantly I would get a reply. I would always make sure the border crossing time was well before I actually got there and never have had a problem with a hundred border crossings, both into Canada and Baja.

Yes, a computer is required sometime before you cross. Though I do not like the requirement to gain permission to leave or enter MY country, it isn't that big of a deal, IMO.