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I can’t believe how hot the weather has been this past week here in Los Angeles, California area
I guess some people got tired of surfing the internet and getting so depressed about the stock market, the recession, and the financial slum we’ve fallen into, that they grab their surfing board instead and headed for the beach.
Everybody seems to have the same idea than me because the Santa Monica beach was crowded. My kids mentioned that they want to see the kitesurfers again so we headed North in Pacific Coast Highway toward Malibu beach. (See my previous post kitesurfing at Malibu Beach California)
This seem to be the only place that this sport is practiced because I have not seeing any kitesurfing practiced anywhere but here. From San Diego, through Orange county and South Bay beaches, but I might be wrong and just happen that when I was visiting these places there was nobody kiteboarding at that time.

As we watched the beautiful colors and designs of these kite boards, we talked with some of the surfers and inquired what are the features a good kiteboard should have and they mentioned that they expect their kite to: turn faster, jump higher, loop tighter, and hang longer

If you want to try and learn more about this sport there are some instructional DVD for kiteboard training so you can become familiar with what is required for kitesurfing. Get to know the masters of kiteboarding names like Chris Moore and others professionals that practice and master kitesurfing.

Kitesurfing is a very physical demanding extreme sport and some of basic physical condition you must have as a surfer also applied to kiteboarding and they are:
· You must have good swimming skills
· Good balance abilities
· Upper body strength
· Legs and calves strength
· Endurance
· Ability to think and react quickly to a split second changing conditions.

If you think you can do it, then you must do your diligent research for the best brands, prices and quality. Sometimes you can find in Ebay great bargains in used or new kiteboarding kit and equipment.

Here are some of the popular brands and styles of kiteboards that are sold on Ebay
2007 16m Bularoo complete with kite bag and pump
2008 13 m waroo kiteboarding Waroo pro 11 meter
Slingshot machine 17.5m kite
2008 cabrinha convert 9m kite
Gk globe kites sonic 14m kite complete

Kiteboarding in a exciting sport to practice when you visit some of the great sunny beaches of Southern California

Halloween is here and some people in Southern California are looking for Halloween costumes for children or adults.
Saving money on Halloween costumes
You can search several ways of saving money on a Halloween costume for example you can make your costume yourself. All you need is creativity and imagination and look around for items and clothes you already have at home. Read a story here of how some kids made their videogame character costume. Other way is researching at Ebay or other costumes stores for unexpensive costumes or great deals for your money.
Cool places to look for Halloween costumes

• Dark and scary costumes for adults
• Children, pets, kids and adult costumes
  To continue with my beach theme what more appropriated costumes than a beautiful mermaid from costume kingdom, or a Hawaiian Luau costume, beach dud, tourist, tropical dressed girl. Well you got the idea.
  If you don’t like to wear a costume but you still like to get scare, here are some tips for you.
  Read the economic news. (Some people are having a great party with your bailout money and they don’t seem very worry about the financial crisis.) So don’t spoil the fun for you and your kids.
  Another great thing to do for Halloween is visit Southern California Amusement parks
  Knott’s Scary Berry Farm (The original Halloween haunt park and one of the favorite places to visit Knott’s Berry Farm)
  Mickey Trick or treat party (come and celebrate Halloween in Disneyland with the whole family)
  Halloween Horror (Universal Studios)

Treat or treating all you want with your family and friends and have a safe and happy Halloween

As we continue with our family vacation in Mexico, we were driving to downtown Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point), a small town of Sonora, Mexico as we mentioned before on my previous post Going South of the Border and Mexico Vacation 
Some of the people in my group needed some groceries, snacks, water, limes, beers, liquor and all the necessary stuff like those mentioned above, We also exchanged some local currency that is trading round it up to 10 mexican pesos for 1 us dollar. As we stop to the only market in town. I was expecting to see something like a farmers market but the town has a well supplied indoor market with air conditioned (like Ralph’s supermarket) with everything you need, local and US imports.

 If you are traveling with children, make sure you always have a good supply of water and have them protected from the sun and heat. 
 After getting our supplies we headed to a place called “el Malecon” this is a tourist area and you will find the typical Mexican artesanies like clay pots, several items made of leather, and other memorabilia. There are plenty of places to shop and restaurant to visit for some of your favorite seafood meal.
Riding a Jet Ski
We rented two jet ski and that was something exiting for my two teenagers, My 13 years old daughter was so excited to ride the jet ski for the first time and she was so surprise of how easy it was to learn to ride the jet ski, It only took a few minutes of instruction of how to start it, turn it off, accelerate and maneuvers, never take off your life jacket and others safety precautions. Of course I was riding with her just in case she got into trouble.
After a few minutes my kids where speeding in their jet ski for more fun in the water.

The Banana Boat
Another fun thing we did was riding a yellow inflatable rubber boat called “the Banana”. There are two inflated cylinder in each side of the boat and people claim as a horse ride position and in the center there is a flat area where small kids can ride. Everybody must wear a life jacket. The Banana is towed by a boat and what make this fun is that as the boat speed up the banana boat has a bumpy ride with the waves and you have to hold on yourself good or soon you will end up in the water like some of us did.
Other fun thing you can do here are: You can rent a boat to take you to deep water fishing or diving, Paragliding, go around the coast on a party atmosphere ship ride and other water activities.
After all the activities we did, made everybody hungry, so the locals recommend us two restaurants that were located in top of a hill with a beautiful view of the bay.
Restaurants
As we drove the unpaved road to the top of the hill we reached the restaurants one was called the Lighthouse and the other La casa del Capitan, that day we visit the Lighthouse, They have a good selection of Mexican style plates and we try some delicious combination of fish tacos, shrimps, scallops, and fish.  And while you are eating you can enjoy a live band playing jazz music. Get your camera ready because both restaurants have a beautiful panoramic view of the whole area.
The next day we came back to visit the other restaurant La Casa del Capitan and the two restaurants have a good selection of Mexican plates and seafood plates, Mexican style as well. They have some mariachi live music as well but you have to pay them some amount for each song they play at your table. This is optional; you don’t have to call them to play at your table but after a few loaded Margaritas or shot of tequilas you probably are in a happier mood and you might change your mind.

Our Mexico vacation with the family in Puerto Peñasco.
As soon as we enter our room, My kids opened the balcony to check what view we have of the area
This is our breath taking view from our room.

I got a warm feeling of satisfaction when I saw the wow expression on the face of my kids when they realize that this family vacation is going to be fun and with a lot of new and exciting adventures.
Next thing I knew we were in a warm swimming pool, drinking my favorite liquor drink and munching on Spicy Buffalo wings and fish tacos, they have an extensive menu of real Mexican food so I told my kids to place their order, each choose a virgin piña colada (no liquor) and a Hamburger.
This is a list of some of the activities and fun games to do

• Tequila Volleyball-water polo.  The teams that score a point win a shot of tequila. We must have beaten the other team  because by the time the game finished I was too booze to keep the score.
• Beach soccer – I played a few minutes
• Beach volleyball – Also played a few minutes
• Aqua-aerobic   Which I participate and have a lot of fun
• Gym and Spa – I didn’t know they have gym until later
• Learn to prepare your favorite liquor drink and mix- I miss this important class too. Damn
• Latin dance classes – Salsa, Cumbia, Merengue – My 2 teens which are excellent dancers, a boy 17 and a girl 13 liked and participate under my suggestion. In previous talk with my son I mentioned to him that if you want to have a lot of fun and at the same time be popular with beautiful girls you have to ether learn to play an instrument (guitar) or learn to dance, which he is doing both. He is enjoying the benefits now.
• Children activities – Ecological and shell collection, educational field trips, and many fun children activities to mention. If you are traveling with children this is a good place to have a family vacation.

This was like having your own private beach, because there is no other construction for miles around this place and the town is about 20 to 30 minutes driving.
As we touch the water on the beach it was as warm as the swimming pool, and there is a large area where the water level only reach up to your waist, that was good for my friend who have two children ages 5 and 7
This beach is not for surfing or bodyboard because there are no waves but other beach activities can be done here.

We were talking with my 17 year old son (who want to study and enter the field of engineering and architect in the university) about how they have turn this deserted area into this green vacation place by taking the water from the ocean and send it through a process of desalination and water purification they turn ocean water into purified water which is life for the green grass, plants and ready for human consumption and other necessities.
This place is just a small percentage of the original plan which includes several beautiful green grass and palms, ocean side golf courses, shopping centers, dance club, theaters, a marina with boat docking facilities, an soon an airport. This is going to be the next Cancun except is closer to Los Angeles.

Next going to Downtown Puerto Peñasco

I just came back from a well deserved vacation. It’s been several years that I have not been able to take some time off that I can truly enjoy. I have been so busy pleasing everybody else that I did not have any time and energy left on me to do the things I wanted to do.
I manage to scrap one week off and suddenly a lot of urgent things started to come out on that particular time frame. It seem like it was planned to conspire and threatening to ruin my week off.
 Finally I sorted everything out and I was free for a week. I took my wife and kids and we headed south of the border, I have been in Mexico before but we were heading for a new place, a place that I have never have been before and It is called Puerto Peñazco or Rocky point as English speakers called the area. This place is located in the Cortez’s sea in the border of California and Arizona.
We have estimated that will take us about 8 hours to get to our destination so we left L.A. at around 2:30 am and took the 10 freeway East toward San Bernardino and continue until you cross Arizona, We stop at a restaurant around 6am and as the family and friends when for breakfast I went to sleep in the car. I was so uncomfortable in the car but let me tell you that whatever time I sleep was the most satisfying sleep I ever have, because when my group came back I was feeling a lot better and ready to continue with our trip. Soon we cross Arizona and we reach the intersection of the AZ-85 S and turning south toward I-8 Gila Bend we went to a desert area. Driving through the desert area during the early hours was a good idea and having a good air conditioner system in your car is a must for a comfortable ride through the desert.
We pass the town of Ajo and continue until we reached the last town Lukeville next to the US border
On the Mexico side of the border the town is know as Sonoyta and next stop will be Puerto Peñasco called La Jolla de Cortes.
I was wondering if we took the wrong turn because I could not see any water or ocean anywhere only cactus, rocks and desert, until we finally reached our destination around 11 am. And as soon as I pass the lobby this was my welcoming view.

Next, more fun in Puerto peñasco

When you visit Newport Beach make sure you check our vacation package and timeshare section where you will find several deals similar to this one.

Visit Newport Beach and stay at Marriott Newport Coast Villas and enjoy this spectacular resort, located in Newport Coast, California. Between Newport and Laguna Beach.

 This 2 Bedroom 2 Bath unit resembles an Italian village. And is located in a 12-building complex set above the Pacific Ocean.
 These Marriott’s villas offer full kitchens, washers and dryers, and dial-up Internet access.

Some of the amenities include:
• Three pools offer swimming with expansive ocean views.
• On-site spa provides massages, facials, and other treatments.
• Hot tubs
• 26,000 square foot pool.
• Golf course adjacent to the resort, with spectacular trees and greens located right on the ocean
• Water and beach activities
• Oceanfront fitness center
• Whirlpool and jacuzzi

These are some of the top of the line amenities that you would expect from Marriott

If you would like to explore your surrounding, you will find a pleasant surprise on Laguna Beach, Carlsbad and San Juan Capistrano

Come just you and your love one or bringing the whole family with the children. You will find that this is an excellent place to visit, there is fun and entertainment for everyone. With shops and excellent restaurants and walks on the beach. Visit another GreatSunnyBeaches in Southern California and make your unforgettable summer.

This pass 4th of July long weekend was excellent, we all needed a brake from our routine.
The temperature here were so hot that everybody was heading to all those places that have “Water” and places like Raging Waters, Soak City, Hurricane Harbor and Wild Rivers in Southern California was the favorite place to be for kids and adults. Of course that local lakes, beaches and rivers were very popular spots to be with family and friends.
A lot of people where so anxious to use that brand new grill they just bought. They were waiting for a special occasion like this pass holiday. They put on the grill everything they could find, hamburgers patty, chicken, shrimps, hotdogs, vegetable you name it. Even the hamburgers that some of my folks created were as delicious as the one in In-and-Out restaurant.
While I was resting and swinging in the hammock next to the water, I was kind of daydreaming about “why not create my own personal independence day”
Well? Of What I need to have an independence from? To begin with I have compiled a list of things that I need to get my independence from so here it is my own personal list:
 

My own independence day

• Financial independence - continue working and researching my home-based-business and other opportunities while I still have a job. Don’t give up, some day my efforts will pay off.
• Independence from debt – Cut down or completely eliminates expenses. Doesn’t use Credit Cards, use a ATM/debit card instead.
• Independence from misery - Live my life at plenitude – Be happy, enjoy the moments with my children and wife. Live and enjoy the present.
• Independence from oil – Oil price $125.00 per barrel and no top on sight, somebody must be swimming in a pool of dollars. Is there something I can do to lower my consumption and dependence on gas? First I will try to get the maximum benefits in every car trip I make, and use the car only when necessary. Also use alternative transportation, public bus, metro, bicycle, car-pool, whatever I have to be creative.
• Independence from taxes - Create my own Boston Tea party, find way to reduce taxes, I already try my two dependent tricks but I did not do well, I love my kids anyway so that don’t matter if I spend more than what I can deduct. Maybe I will try to get my home base business profitable so I can legally allow some expenses deductions and tax deductions.
• Independence from bad politic -vote on November 08. Select the people who will contribute for the good of our country and not the deterioration of our states.
That will keep me busy for a while.  But for now I will go and see the 4th of July fireworks instead.

California Theme Parks
Well. Summer is here and the kids are out of school on vacation. They will be at home for about 3 months !!
One thing for sure is, that I don’t want they spend the whole summer playing video games and watching TV. So we are making plans on activities that the whole family can enjoy. We will do a research in all the amusement parks in Southern California and we will check if we can get any cheap or discount tickets.

We want to have fun but we also want to save as much money as possible, if we are required to take a soda can to get a discount, cut coupons or search for good deals on California amusement parks on the net, we will look for way to save money in anything. We want to get the most fun for a buck, stretch our dollar value, make our dollar worth something. Otherwise with the high cost of gasoline we will be spending more than we can handle.

Theme parks in Southern California
Disneyland
California Adventure
Knott’s Berry Farm
Soak City
Universal Studios
Six Flag Magic Mountain
Six Flag Hurricane Harbor
Sea World San Diego 
Legoland
Raging Waters

Sometimes you can find deal that are called parkhopper for example Disneyland sometimes they have a deal that for one adult admission to Disneyland you can come next day or any other day to California Adventure park located next to Disneyland park. You can find the same deal of the parkhopper in other similar theme parks like Knott’s Berry Farm and Soak City or Six Flag Magic Mountain and Six Flag Hurricane Harbor. They don’t have this offers all the time so that is why you have to research for this and other good deals these themes park have, and you can get your hand on them and save a bundle.

If you are visiting Southern California, make sure you take your family to any of this parks, and your kids will remember all those special happy moments that you share together and that will last a lifetime.

4th of July celebration at the beach
This coming Friday we’ll be celebrating 4th of July
And a lot of people will be heading to the Great Sunny Beaches of Southern California
You can enjoy a beautiful day at the beach, where temperatures will be around the 80 or 100. You can bring your barbeque or if you prefer to visit one of the several local bar-restaurants for a good meal or your favorite cold drink and socialize while you are there.
During the day you can do the usual beach activities like, surfing, playing volleyball, ride your bike or inline skates or simply enjoy the sand and the water.
Each beach city will have their own way to celebrate the 4th of July, for example Marina del Rey will have their annual fireworks show over the Marina’s main channel and Venice Beach will have a bodybuilding competition and they will be looking for Mr. and Ms. muscle beach for this year. Also in the same event it will be the figure and swimsuit competition. Come and enjoy the show, and treat your eyes to this spectacle by the beach.

But when the night comes be prepare to watch the grand fireworks spectacle that most of the beach-cities do as a 4th of July tradition. The night will be illuminated with explosions of red, white and blue colors, such a beautiful sight for children and adult as well.
Make sure you are wearing something patriotic but click on USA Flag wear if you need some help. You can use your imagination and creativity to show your true colors.
Have a happy and safe 4th of July from GreatSunnyBeaches.com

Coming back from the end of the pier we pass through various people, some of them are casual fisherman, others are entertainers that come to the pier to try to make a living as singers, dancer, clowns, painters, sculpture makers or artist that can make a portrait of you on pencil or colors, right in front of your eyes. That reminds me of the movie Titanic (1997 movie). Some parts were filmed in Playas de Rosarito, Baja California, Mexico.

The story is about a forbidden love. Jack Dawson and Rose DeWitt Bukater (played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet) Jack is a pennyless artist, who earn some money doing drawing or portrait of people. He is so afortunate that he get to do a pencil drawing of Rose (Kate Winslet) wearing absolutly nothing but a blue diamond necklace called “The Heart of the Ocean”. Hey! some guys are sooo lucky!. I can only draw stick woman/men but I am willing to take that job too.

During the movie he talks with Rose of his plans to go around the world and perhaps come to Santa Monica Pier and do some drawings to earn a living, like some of the people who frequent the pier. Don’t be looking for someone who barely resemble DiCaprio because in real life you will not find nobody here that look like him. In the other hand, who knows? anything is possible.
You will probably stop to see or admire the skills of these people, some of them are brilliant other need a lot of improvement, but here, you are the one who decide to whom give your attention or completely ignore them and continue your walk through out the pier.