Gringo Gazette

Gringo Gazette

Gringo Gazette North is Baja’s English-language newspaper for the American community and anyone curious about life south of the border. We mix local news, events, and stories with a dash of humor — because life in Baja is too colorful for dry reporting. Our motto? No Bad News.
Columns, Tecate, What Mexico Has Taught Me

I Crossed for Tacos and Found Heartbreak Instead

What Mexico Has Taught Me: Pure Horror!!!

BY THE UNKNOWN GRINGO

I’m on a short leash.  I’m helping a friend who is in terrible shape as he navigates what is left of his life.  I’ve done this before, first with my mother and then my father.  So now I often can’t go to Ensenada for even two or three nights, let alone fly anywhere, but only enjoy five to six hours at the border in Tecate on a Saturday then rush home.  But, it feels like a miracle when I can do this —  to get away and cram as much Mexico as possible into my spirit.  I leave Los Angeles early and start each visit with the excellent shrimp tacos at Tacos Casimiro by 7:15 – 7:20 in the morning.  I am usually their first customer.  I show up on a bicycle.  Wearing shorts.  So… they know me.  Plus I don’t think there is any other place in that small town that serves food that early, let alone seafood.  I need Casimiro.  NEED.

So I parked my vehicle in the States the other day and rode my bicycle across the border.  Shrimp tacos, here I come.  I turned the corner in the quiet residential neighborhood where the place is at and they are CLOSED.  This kind of thing has happened to me many times in Mexico.  A beloved place GONE.  Shock.  Horror.  This place was important to me.  This is going to do damage.

Stunned, I start thinking.  Maybe an employee died and they’re at the funeral.  Maybe a water pipe burst.  Maybe there’s a wedding.  Sure, and maybe I’m the Village Idiot.  But, but, “closed” doesn’t HAVE to mean “gone”, right?  And the empty Coke bottles are still stacked in the parking lot.  Oh, God, not again.  I’m sure I must have sagged visibly.  And, of course, there was no one around for me to ask with my bad Spanish.

Two weeks later I am back and I am prepared.  Prepared to enter a period of grief or to maybe see my buddies again.  (By the way, Plan B Shrimp Tacos Place doesn’t open until 9:00)  I peddled my bike slowly because riding faster was going to deliver bad news sooner.  I crept my way down their street with dread …….. and saw their blue gate was OPEN.  I had to be sure.  I pedaled faster.  Their door was OPEN.  I gave out a shout.  I pulled in, jumped off the bike, pulled a piece of paper out of my wallet, and spoke the words I’d written on it, interrupting the eleven employees in their open kitchen area as they chopped, cleaned, stacked, fried, mixed, de-veined, stirred, and sliced — “Dos semanas pasada.  Julio vientiseis. Sabado.  Mi, aqui.  Casimiro cerrado.  Mi, sustado!”   I believe I said  “Two weeks ago.  July 26.  Saturday.  Me, here.  Casimiro closed.  Me, scared!”  I only got ONE WORD out of the whole crew.  “Vacacion”.

I went straight into my fake crying routine which always works and said “No persona muerto?  Casimiro no muerto?  Mi, asustado!”  More chuckles.  Then they gave me 3 fried serranos chiles instead of my usual 2 with those magnificent shrimp tacos.  But, like I said before, I’ve lost some wonderful places in Mexico.  The statistics in the States are that half of all restaurants close within five years.  And I was told recently by an employee in Ensenada that their place will probably be going out of business soon.  A place so special to me that I go to it almost every single day I am down there.  The life lesson?  I bet we all know it.

#Two tacos, one fried chile, and zero regrets. After two weeks of panic, Casimiro’s kitchen is alive—and my soul is full again.

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 Columns

What Mexico Has Taught Me: The Need to Escape

BY THE UNKNOWN GRINGO

Erle Stanley Gardner wrote in one of his books on Baja, Hunting the Desert Whale, that ” those who are familiar with the land of Baja California are either afraid of it or they love it, and if they love it they are brought back by an irresistible fascination time and again.”  That perfectly describes me since I first crossed the border.  I just have to keep going back because my fascination shows no sign of diminishing.  And I can easily think of passions / interests in my life that have faded over time.

When Covid hit I didn’t go to Mexico anywhere near as often because I wanted to protect myself and my father.  Here at home, a lot of my hiking trails were closed down so I took city walks instead because that’s how I get my daily exercise and I like to be outdoors.  I discovered Chinatown.  W. H. Auden, the British-American poet, wrote “Man needs escape as he needs food and deep sleep.”   I learned that my “escapes” to Mexico over the decades and then Chinatown have strong similarities.

I go on Sunday mornings.  It’s only a 15 minute drive.  They have shops just like the botanicas in Mexico with ground-up organic compounds for what ails you.  The shop owner will give you advice based on your symptoms.  They have prayer candles, too.  Vendors on the street sell fresh fruit, vegetables, iced drinks, and offer samples before you buy.  Individual citizens, usually senior women, will spread blankets on the sidewalk to sell a very small variety of food or personal objects and will chant loudly in their accent “One dollah.  One dollah.” (Amazingly, each one of them almost always has a can of tuna or salmon to sell.)  Men will be selling small electronic devices and USB cables.  Baseball caps for $3. You can find hair care products, sandals, toys, used tools, etc.  One guy sells straw hats made in Mexico for $5 that sell for $20 at Home Depot.  It all reminds me of how people in Mexico have small specialty stores or are self-employed with folding tables under pop-up canopies on a city street or just a blanket with goods on the ground. 

There is a strength of culture there in Chinatown that makes me feel like I am in another country.  My senses get filled.  And that’s what has had me addicted to Mexico for decades.  I get to “escape” my own normal daily life to enjoy something I find a lot more interesting.   Both cultures fully embrace fireworks and festivals with bright costuming.  Both are rich in mythology and have sacred rituals respecting their dead.  Both have a history of strong prejudice against them up here and created ethnic neighborhoods for their own support.  (What a comfort to have neighbors that speak your language.  That would make your house feel like a home and not a remote island.)  And both are fully aware that the dominant culture in the States also absolutely LOVES their food.  What a world.

I have always felt welcomed in Mexico.  For decades I have described the Mexican people as “warm and gracious”.  It is a louder and more colorful country than my own and I love that.  The citizens of Chinatown are more reserved but I feel welcomed there, too.   Next door is the Plaza de Los Angeles, close to where the city was founded in 1781.  When I’m home on Sundays I get my two breakfast tamales there with three different salsas to choose from and then I start walking Chinatown where my favorite bakery will sell me a baked custard bun.  I get a 2 for 1 escape bargain.

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 Articles, Charities, Philanthropy

BECA Scholarship Program Celebrates 30 Years of Impact

Let’s Celebrate 30 Years of La Mision Children’s Fund BECA Scholarship Program

BY Mary Beth DiCecco, Molly Post with Martina Dobesh

Since 1995 BECA has been supporting students in La Mision, Santa Anita and Santa Rosa, Baja California, Mexico. The BECA Scholarship Program works with educators who identify motivated students that benefit from financial assistance to stay in school. 

Education not only changes the life of a student it also changes the lives of the family and the community. Over the years BECA has provided hundreds of scholarships for students from elementary schools through university. Over 100 BECA students have graduated from university or trade schools in the past 20 years. Some have returned to teach in the La Mision community! 

 In addition to scholarships, other services include a Breakfast Program, WIFI to schools,  school supplies, clean water systems, building repairs, field trips and services of a part-time school psychologist. 

Our Major Fundraiser

Our annual Fandango is our biggest fundraiser. Fandango is a lively celebration with dinner and drinks, Silent and Live Auctions, music and dancing, and is a roaring good time! Fandango has had extraordinary support from the community over the past 25 years! 

We fondly remember our original Fandango flyer as designed by Charlie Wild, a longtime resident of La Mision and a Hollywood artistic legend.  Continued in later years by Keith Williamson, also somewhat of a Hollywood legend, as photographer to the stars.

Our venue has changed from Charlie Wild’s Beach house on La Mision Beach, to Eve’s Garden in La Mision, then the Kirchhoff Ranch for many years, and later to the Croswaithe property near the Estuary. BECA families prepared our food, under the direction of local resident Vita Bon.  

We have been privileged to have California voice and film actor Douglas Rye as our emcee and auctioneer for 20 years, with accompanying support by Winifred Morice. The silent and Live Auctions are always a highlight, offering gift baskets, gift certificates, jewelry, art, furniture as well as unique dining,  party and even travel experiences. Under Doug’s spirited auctioneering, there has always been enthusiastic bidding at the Live Auction  and its one of a kind treasures, one year including a bracelet owned by Elizabeth Taylor! 

Live music has been provided by a variety of talents, including local recording artist, composer, and producer Derek Wille as well as  drummer Randy Seol, formerly of the psychedelic rock band Strawberry Alarm Clock. 

Fandango 2025: Tacos, Tunes & Tuition
#Get ready to party with a purpose! Fandango 2025 brings music, dancing, dinner, and margaritas—all to support local kids. It’s for the niños, but let’s be honest… you’re gonna have a blast too. 🎶🌮🎓
🎟 Info & tickets: lamisionchildrensfund.org/purchase-fandango-tickets

Join Our Volunteer Staff

The BECA Fandango Committee is a collaborative committee  with many strong and talented members. Beverly Wilburn and Molly Post are often credited for being the leaders because of their long-time involvement. 

We are an all-volunteer organization with minimal overhead costs. Volunteers are the heart and soul of LMCF. Every dollar donated to LMCF/BECA goes directly to support local education. 

 If you are interested in volunteering with us, we would love to talk with you—whether you are a longtime resident in Baja, have recently arrived, or visit only occasionally.  If interested go to “contact” at https://lamisionchildrensfund.org and send us your information.

Celebrate With Us and the Children!

Thank you to everyone who made Fandango a celebrated and successful event for so many years.  Our 2025 event on  Sunday, August 31, 2 pm features a spacious new venue by the sea, Quinta Las Delfines Cultural Art Center, k 56.5 Carretera Libre. Our DJ is well-known musical talent Billie Knight, and actress and artist Lisa Briganti Rath will serve as emcee. Students will provide a special folklorico performance, and the legendary Silent and Live Auction items will continue to awe and inspire! Dress in your finest Western attire and come join us!

See flyer in this edition for more information on this year’s special event, and to purchase your tickets!

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 Baja Norte, Editions

July 28, 2025 Edition

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 Baja Norte, Editions

July 14, 2025 Edition

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 Baja Norte, Editions

June 30, 2025 Edition

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 Baja Norte, Editions

June 16, 2025 Edition

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 Baja Norte, Editions

June 2, 2025 Edition

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 Baja Norte, Editions

May 19, 2025 Edition

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 Baja Norte, Editions

Cinco de Mayo, 2025 Edition

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