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I can’t believed how cold has been here in Southern California, we have rain last couple of days and you can see the snow in the Big Bear mountains. 

So what people in Santa Monica California do when they can’t go sunbathing at the beach?
They go ice skating by the beach !!!
Yeap ! it’s is true, I am not kidding.  These people from Santa Monica always find a way to have fun in any situation.
Some of us have turn into a Grinch with this bad economy and the sight of kids and family laughing and having fun make us feel uneasy.  On this Christmas there is nothing to be happy about. There are huge money losses, everybody is going out of business, worst bear economy, the sky is falling, money is everything, money, money, money. People is wisely cutting down expenses, and maximazing on savings and is advaisable that you should do the same in these uncertain times, but don’t over do it that will ruin the Christmas for your children and love ones. You don’t need a lot of money to enjoy the Christmas spirit.
There is a slight possibility that maybe, if you join them (the ice skaters), suddenly your Grinch mood will start to disappear, and you will find yourself smiling, perhaps will be the first time you actually have fun in all this year. For your love ones everything is more beautiful and wonderful when ”you” are with them.  Well? What are you waiting for? Just give it a try and come visit the city of Santa Monica.

The city of Santa Monica in association with some business continue with a tradition of installing a temporary ice skating ring in a empty parking lot for the fun and entertainment of local Santa Monica residents and any visitant. The rental fee is $10 and that include the skate rental and use of the ice ring, the facility also have some area where you can enjoy a hot chocolate or your favorite brand name coffee or hot drink.
The Ice skating ring is located exactly in the corner of Arizona Ave and 5th street right across from the U.S. Postal  Service so is very conveniently located if you want to drop off some packages at the post office and take the kids to ice skate across the street.

Just five blocks from Santa Monica beach and two blocks from the popular 3rd street Promenade, where you can find a great selection of good restaurants, top brand name stores, movie theaters, live street entertainers, popular bookstores, fruit name computer and electronic stores, al-fresco or patio restaurant and coffee shops where you can just sit down and enjoy the view and the day.

Celebrate Christmas and enjoy the holidays, come and have fun with your love ones.

Last summer at the beach I found myself hiding my guts and love handles with a t-shirt. Well I promise myself I got to do something about it before it gets out of hand.  So I usually do the running or walking by the beach, bicycle, inline skating but maybe I am eating too many carne asada burritos, and Mexican chips with hot salsa. I got to cut down on those too. My wife always said “watch what you eat” and I respond “I stare very hard to that hamburger before I eat it” She just roll her eyes and walk away. She won’t admit it but she loves me for my good sense of humor.
Anyway, I found something that you can do exercise at home and have fun at the same time, you can do exercise by yourself or with the whole family. And it happens to be one of my kid’s toys. Let me tell you that I don’t usually play with my kids toys, for real, I don’t touch their Star Wars action figures and nether the X-wing planes and none of that except that little helicopter that you can use with a remote control to fly it around the house. (We didn’t have cool toys like these when I was a kid) Anyway going back to my topic I discovered (drums roll) my kid’s Nintendo Wii video game consol. specifically the game called Wii fit.
The Wii fits use a Wii Balance Board, this is a pressure-sensitive, similar in appearance to a step aerobics board. Read more useful information in this article title “No more couch potato with the new Nintendo game WiiFit”
You have 4 categories to choose for your exercises
Strength training
Aerobics
Yoga
Balance Games
Times are very difficult now and we are cutting cost in anything we can, and like some of us who was enroll in the gym but never went to exercise except for the first three month of the year, we have to cut down on membership and have to look for alternative to exercise and since we found a good deal on this Wii system we might as well squeeze all the benefits we can get out of it. We try to get items that will be use for multiple purpose and the Nintendo Wii system is very flexible and versatile toy. Great gift for your kids for this Christmas.
Find yourself great deals on Wii fits for this Christmas and get your whole family in good shape.

A lot of people are getting ready to travel during these coming holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas bring a lot of visitors to Los Angeles, California.  Locals Angelinos are traveling to others parts of the country as well and a lot of people are visiting relatives on Christmas time in Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and others central and South America countries.

Unfortunately due to the rough economic times United States has been going through, a lot of people will opt for staying at home on these coming holidays.
The slow economy has spilled to other countries that depend of a robust US economy and the holidays travelers that spend their US dollars, and stimulate their local economy as well.
Smart travelers are taking advantages of some of the great deals that some airlines are promoting to attract travelers.
You can check here Visit California Today: Book flight + hotel together and save!
with Travelocity and compare several airlines companies competing for your business.
Here are some of the tips, smart travelers use when preparing for their trip.
• Do your diligent research online and shop around for prices, airlines services, non-stop flights or connecting flights, hotel accommodations and others travels needs.
• Buy your ticket online- preferable ahead of time even though sometimes you can get “last minutes flights” at bargain prices. Buy you decide what is best for you.
• Avoid peak travel dates
• Allow yourself some extra time. You will avoid some headaches and anxiety with this tip alone.
• Find out ahead of time about packing requirement and new Airport Security Laws and Measures. (For example there are new rules for carrying liquids, gels, electronic equipment and some personal items that will be confiscated or get you in unnecessary trouble, if your try to go with them on airport security checkpoints.)
• Yes, your shoes and some cloth or metallic wear will have to be removed in securities check points. Don’t make unnecessary delays and follow the rules.
• Always call and confirm with your airline that you are scheduled to flight in your particular flight number, date and time.
Those are some of the tips that might help you have a pleasant trip and truly enjoy your holiday with your love ones.

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

Surfing Competition
Want to see how the experts do it? Come to Manhattan Beach this weekend.

The South Bay cities will have a surfing and other beach activities from Friday August 1st through Sunday 3rd. California’s  South bay cities of Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach and the Los Angeles department of beaches will be having beach-summer-activities for locals and visitors as well. A series of competitions, championships and others activities will be taking place in some of the cities mentioned above. Plenty of food, music and entertainment for the family.

Calendar of Activities
Friday August 1st
 at 7:00pm  LA County Lifeguard Championships-At Torrance Beach
Saturday, August 2nd
6:45 am International Bodysurfing Championship at Manhattan Beach Pier
7:00 am Surfing Championships at Hermosa Beach Pier
7:00 am Sand Soccer Challenge
8:00 a.m Two-Mile Beach Run — Hermosa Beach Pier
9:00 a.m Volleyball Tournament — Manhattan Beach Pier
7:00 p.m. So Calif. Lifeguard Championships Events — Torrance Beach
Sunday, August 3
7:30 a.m Pier-to-Pier Paddleboard Championship — Manhattan Beach
8:00 a.m. Sand Soccer - Torrance Beach
9:00 a.m. Volleyball Tournament — Manhattan Beach Pier
9:00 a.m. Pier-To-Pier Swim — Hermosa Pier to Manhattan Pier
10:00 a.m. Lifeguard Dory Race — Hermosa Pier
1:00 p.m. South Bay Youth Swims and Paddles — Hermosa Beach Pier.

 Fun and activities in our GreatSunnyBeaches of Southern California

We just received our brand new and beautiful Morey bodyboard (I believed it is also called boogieboard) for my daughter.  With screaming and excitement she runs showing the board to everybody in the house. Next thing I knew I felt a tap on my shoulder. And there she was. All dress up with her swimming suit, fins, bodyboard and towel. And she said “Dad I am ready for the beach” as I was wandering how did she manage to change her cloth so quickly.
Next thing we were heading for Malibu Beach where surfing is king and you can surf with a short or classic long board, windsurf, kite surf you name it everything related to water is practiced here.

Since my daughter have never tried bodyboard surfing, I decided to stay close just in any case something goes wrong but for a first time user and a beginner she was not doing so bad. She was able to take some good waves that glide her all the way to the beach sandy area.
Surfing on a boogieboard is a relative unexpensive way to have fun at the beach.

You only need a boogieboard and fins and you are ready to go. (Don’t forget to wear a swimsuit too) You might find a good bodyboard here but do your diligent research first and find out about prices, quality and brands so you can compare and choose your best deal at best prices. There are Bodyboard in a great assorted of colors and some of them come with Disney characters or super hero designs for small children but others are geared to adults and experts bodyboarders and are designed accordingly
 Choose right and you will enjoy hours and many days of surfing fun at the beach.
As a precaution, I believed that is safer not to use the fins if you are a beginner and later on when you got more experience and become and intermediate boogieboard rider you might get your fins or get a wetsuit to keep you warm on cold water.

Don’t underestimate the power of the waves and bodyboarding surfing. Experts can surf at great speed and do some intrepid jumping, spinning and turning maneuvers that are only limited to the audacity and surfing skills of this bodyboard riders. Like any other surfing sports you just have to catch the perfect wave.