Mole... The Most Delicious Reason to Travel in Mexico!

Our friends just returned from their vacation in Mexico raving about a savory dish they discovered in Oaxaca called 'mole'. What exactly is mole?

As far as we at Baja Bound.Com are concerned, mole is the sexiest food in Mexico! This spicy, gorgeous sauce can be prepared a thousand different ways ~ and has a rich cultural history.

The word "mulli" or "molli" comes from the ancient Aztec language Nahuatl. Loosely defined, it means "sauce," "stew," or "concoction." Like all great chefs, the Aztecs learned early that necessity is the source of invention! By combining unusual mixes of ingredients, they were able to create a multitude of delectable sauces.

In modern-day Mexico, unique and distinctive mole sauces are made in every region, town... and family! The sauces are created by using different amounts of chiles, seeds, fruits, nuts, spices, and chocolate - among other tasty additions! Some recipes call for garlic and onions, others for tomatillos or lard... but in our book, all of them are absolutely divine.

Who invented mole?

As with most important discoveries, many people would love to take the credit for inventing mole! There are a wide variety of stories which tell how these sauces were first created, but in our opinion, the truth likely rests with time and experimentation. As any dedicated cook will tell you, some of the most exquisite meals come from throwing together a wild mix of leftovers...

However, for traditionalists, here is our favorite of the many stories in circulation about the invention of mole:

In the early 17th Century, a Dominican nun named Sor Andrea de la Asuncion lived in a convent in Puebla de los Angeles, outside of Mexico City. The mother superior of her order asked her to create a special meal to honor and celebrate visiting dignitaries who would be arriving on a Sunday.

>> Read the full text of this article

Are Your Pets Baja Bound?

Planning a Mexican road trip with your favorite four-legged friend?
Here's what you need to know...

Do you daydream about strolling down the beautiful white sands of Playa Solmar in Cabo San Lucas with your beloved dog at your side? Lounging in a hammock next to the Sea of Cortez next to your favorite cat? Your vision of a vacation that won't leave poor Rusty or Paws at home, locked in a kennel, can be easily achieved provided that you have the right information. As long as you leave home well prepared, traveling south of the border with your pets can add a lot of warmth and fun to your adventure, without unnecessary headaches or hassles.

We've traveled with our dogs before, but never into Mexico. Do we need any special permits?

The short answer is - yes.

According to the Mexican Consulate (http://portal.sre.gob.mx), in order to cross over the border into Mexico with pet dogs (and to make sure they return home safely with you!) you will need to carry two main documents throughout your journey:

• An International Certificate of Good Health (Form 77-043) issued by a licensed veterinarian who has examined your pet within 10 days of transport, and...
• Proof of vaccination against rabies and distemper, administered at least 15 days (but not more than 12 months) before your pet enters Mexico.

...However, to be on the safe side, we at Baja Bound recommend getting the rabies vaccination at least 30 days (but not more than one year) before entering Mexico, and waiting to get your International Certificate of Health until you are within 72 hours of your journey south. Since inspection and enforcement procedures can vary depending on the time of day when you cross into Mexico, which port of entry you are using, and traffic ~ it's probably better to err on the side of caution. If you go by our guidelines, you will be sure to avoid getting turned away at the last moment. Better safe than sorry!

>> Read the full text of this article

Close Encounters of the Cetacean Kind

Whale Watching in Baja California

We're taking our first family vacation in Mexico, and some friends told us that we should go whale watching. Can you tell us more about what we can expect?

Sure! First of all, you can expect to be amazed. Depending on where you choose to go in Mexico, for a reasonable price you and your family can actually enjoy a close up view of the whales, and maybe even have a 'hands-on' experience! There are actually several locations in Baja California where whale-watching is possible.

Okay, so where in Baja should we go if we want to see whales?

It all depends on which season it is, what kind of whales you would like to see, and how close you want to get to them.

Every year, the California gray whales travel between 5,000 and 6,000 miles from Alaska and Siberia down to the coastal lagoons of Baja. This journey southward takes between two and three months, total. It is actually one of the longest animal migrations on Earth. Wonder why the gray whales travel so far every year? Instinct. They make this trip so that the pregnant females can give birth to their young, and other breeding age whales can mate.

If you want to have an experience with these California gray whales, your best options will be to go to one of three Pacific coastal lagoons - Laguna Ojo de Liebre, Laguna San Ignacio, or Bahia Magdalena. The whales come to these lagoons for the natural protection, shelter and warmer waters that the coastal reserves offer.

>> Read the full text of this article

New Passport Regulations and the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative

Planning a surf trip for your class reunion in 2008? Don't forget your passport!

Did you know...

...that as of December 31st, 2007, all US citizens will be required to have a passport if they want to take a road trip into Mexico? (Well actually, you don't have to own a passport to travel INTO Mexico, but they won't let you back in the US without one!)

This is all part of a new set of rules laid out by the US Departments of State and Homeland Security that will affect every US citizen entering the United States from countries within the Western Hemisphere (e.g. the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central & South America, Mexico and Canada).

Why are there so many new rules? The old system seemed fine to me!

These new rules are supposed to prevent potential terrorists from entering the United States through other North American countries.

Back in 2004, the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act (IRTPA) made it mandatory that the US Departments of State and Homeland Security figure out some kind of a plan requiring US citizens and foreign nationals to show a passport or some kind of "appropriate security document" when entering the US. The two departments got together and created the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

What exactly IS the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative?

In a nutshell, it basically says that by the end of 2007, US citizens will have to show a passport or other accepted document for ALL air, sea and land border crossings.

Won't my driver's license work?

Nope. You've probably heard that they're thinking of making a national identity card which would act as a driver's license for residents of all US states... but even if that happens, your driver's license will no longer be enough proof of identity to get you back into the US.

>> Read the full text of this article