What is going on at the entrance to 13th Street?

Roberto

Guest
Sorry but I think it's a total waste of money. A monument to an all but extinct fish is sort of a memorial to the decline of Penasco. Calle 13 has slid badly and there is still flooding and sewage still runs in the street right next to taco stands even after the renovation. They could have done a lot of repairs around town in areas being used for the cost of paving Calle 12, which gets NO traffic. I don't get the expense of this with the condition of the roads in town. Filling the potholes with dirt is another waste of money. They do not even compact it but take the ashpalt removed from BJ to the dump rather than grinding it and reusing it!! Benito Juarez is closed off and Sandy Beach RV visitors are beating their vehicles on Ocana, the grand canyon model. 12in deep potholes and washboard everywhere. People going to Sandy Beach will soon realize that they can avoid the town completely by going on the road off the the goofy intersection out of town on the Sonoita road to the coastal highway spur directly into Sandy Beach. Shacks 5th avenue has not benefitted from the renovation. Yeah, yeah the new paving to the Convention center might help, assuming you do not hook a wheel off the edge of the pavement with no apron and a 6 inch drop !! It should be embarassing to someone.:confused::confused::confused::confused::(:(

Whew, I feel better getting all that off my chest !!! Time for a nice nap.
 
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El Gato

Guest
Here is the Artlce from RP 360:

Monumento al Pescado meant to herald Puerto Peñasco’s roots

Posted: 12 Jan 2014 01:20 PM PST

By Azucena Mazón

Rescuing part of Puerto Peñasco’s roots, while presenting both residents and visitors with reminders of the city’s origins, is the goal behind building a “Fish Monument” at the intersection of Calle 13 and Blvd. Benito Juárez.


Photo: Azucena Mazón

The figure, which will be placed on the structure currently under construction as part of work to improve and beautify this important road leading to the city’s main hotel zones, will be that of a marlin measuring 6 meters long (nearly 20 feet). The fiberglass marlin is being built by the local company PROFIBRA.

“This is a project both for the people of Puerto Peñasco and for our visitors,” explains Mayor Gerardo Figueroa Zazueta. “We were lacking a monument to reflect our roots, so that people may know about the origins of the port. In addition, the investment in this [monument] is not as much as some have said.”

The Monumento al Pescado, according to information provided by the Office of Public Projects, is set to be inaugurated within the next three weeks. This will also mark the reopening of Calle 13.

The marlin is to be placed in the center of the concrete block structure currently underway at the entrance to Calle 13. The structure itself will be covered with rock and pine cantera; ironwork, landscaping and lighting are also part of the project that has been estimated to run about 500,000 pesos.

With completion of this monument, this will bring the number of monuments heralding the roots of Puerto Peñasco to four, joining the Estatua del Pescador and monument to José the Fisherman in the malecón, and the Shrimp Monument located at Plaza del Camarón.

From Sailfish to Marlin

During the 50s, a first emblematic monument of Puerto Peñasco was built in the form of a sailfish.

In learning about the new Monumento al Pescado construction, many Puerto Peñasco natives and long-time residents remember the sailfish that once stood at the entrance to what is now Calle 13, which was actually a promotional sign for the Playa Hermosa Hotel.

So recalls Enrique Rodriguez, General Manager of FMI Rentals and lifelong Puerto Peñasco resident (who for a time while growing up lived just blocks from the sailfish sign).


Photo: Used with permission from collection of Guillermo Munro Palacio

“It was a Puerto Peñasco icon because at the time Playa Hermosa was one of the best hotels on the beach. Everyone who visited at that time would say, ‘go along the street, turn right at the fish and the hotel is at the end,’ it was like a reference point,” Rodriguez explained during a recent impromptu interview.

Rodriguez, along with Las Gaviotas manager Alberto Gallardo and shipbuilder Antonio Bellot, detailed the sailfish monument was well-built and consisted of a stone base with wooden posts, and a wooden sailfish pointing in the direction of the hotel.

“I think it was a good reference point, as well as an icon for Puerto Peñasco,” reiterated Rodríguez, “and it is worth rescuing these values; we can agree on that.”

Similarly, Gallardo remembered the sailfish figure built over 50 years ago was quite famous at the time though disappeared when Calle 13 was first paved in the late 70s.

“The monument was there up until they paved Calle 13 in ’78 or ’79,” he explained, “The owner of Playa Hermosa used to receive many people who he would take out fishing for sailfish, of which there were many at the time. That “little” fish was quite famous.”
 

mexicoruss

Lovin it in RP!
I think looking at the past and remembering them for the future is a good thing. Samuel Ocaña and other streets will be improved in time (since I live just off S.O. I do have a puppy in this one). I'll stick to the positive line on this one.....
 

mexicoruss

Lovin it in RP!
This is a copy of something I read this morning and roughly translated into what you see here

It was around the 60-70's.
At that time Puerto Penasco would at most have about 3,000 inhabitants and the only paved Street was Juarez Boulevard, which was actually an extension of the highway to Sonoyta.
For traveling tourist "The cabins" of the Hotel "Hermosa Beach" by Hector Reyna was practically the only place where they could host visitors.
The property was right on the sea and the beach reached the steps of the hotel.
So visitors would know to get there, on the Boulevard was a great indication on cement with a fish sign pointing to "Hermosa Beach Resort". Hence the current name of the beach of the city.
The exact location: the corner of the third street (today calle 13) and Bld Juarez, where today are the bank Santander-Serfin and the pedestrian bridge.
At that sign of 'The fish' was a rest point at that time, as it was the main cruise of the people. There was a place to rest in the shade or to pickup a ride to somewhere else.
Today, almost 50 years later, the municipal government headed by Gerardo Figueroa seeks to rescue "The fish", which brings so many memories to those of us who have lived here a long time and we know what this represents.Penasco Pescado (Small).jpg
 

Stuart

Aye carumba!!!
Staff member
So Russ... that picture where the sign is... is currently the stop light where you turn onto Calle 13 just after the pedestrian bridge? Makes sense from the train tracks, but WOW... I'm just trying to get my head around the fact nothing was there! o_O Time warp!!!!
 

mexicoruss

Lovin it in RP!
So Russ... that picture where the sign is... is currently the stop light where you turn onto Calle 13 just after the pedestrian bridge? Makes sense from the train tracks, but WOW... I'm just trying to get my head around the fact nothing was there! o_O Time warp!!!!
Yes indeed it is Stuart. I would have loved to have been here then!
 

Roberto

Guest
From where to where is BJ closed?
From the Bodega to the ball park. If you go to Sandy Beach take the outer route, turn right at the big wierd intersection out of town, then left at the intersection with the coastal highway. Brings you to SD. Ocana is a disaster.
 

mis2810

Guest
From the Bodega to the ball park. If you go to Sandy Beach take the outer route, turn right at the big wierd intersection out of town, then left at the intersection with the coastal highway. Brings you to SD. Ocana is a disaster.
That's the way I always go anyway. The ballpark is at No Reelecion, right? I guess what I'm getting at, is can I cross BJ at Constitucion to get to the beer store on the SE corner of BJ and Constitucion? LOL
 

Roberto

Guest
That's the way I always go anyway. The ballpark is at No Reelecion, right? I guess what I'm getting at, is can I cross BJ at Constitucion to get to the beer store on the SE corner of BJ and Constitucion? LOL
Yeah, BJ is all clear that far in. The guy with the bucket there will wash your vehicle while you get the beer. He might even use water !!
 

mis2810

Guest
Yeah, BJ is all clear that far in. The guy with the bucket there will wash your vehicle while you get the beer. He might even use water !!
I never see the bucket guy there. We always get hit up for the "dirty water wash" when we stop at Burro's Mimi next to the Oxxo on No Reeleccion.
 

Roberto

Guest
I never see the bucket guy there. We always get hit up for the "dirty water wash" when we stop at Burro's Mimi next to the Oxxo on No Reeleccion.
It's increasingly annoying to me. I admire people for being willing to work but it's intimidating when they 'wash' your vehicle then demand payment. Particularly when they have little water and filthy rags to do the job. Guy started on my van yesterday when I went into the farmacia, washed the sand encrusted wheels first then worked his way up the side, sanding the paint with a filthy rag !! He got pissed when I told him to stop. There are locations I won't park anywhere near because of this. Rocky Imports comes to mind. This is one issue that is markedly different for permanent residents than occasional visitors. I don't need my van washed 5 times a day, 7 days a week, with sand encrusted rags. If approached I'll pay them 10 pesos to leave the vehicle alone !!
 

mis2810

Guest
It's increasingly annoying to me. I admire people for being willing to work but it's intimidating when they 'wash' your vehicle then demand payment. Particularly when they have little water and filthy rags to do the job. Guy started on my van yesterday when I went into the farmacia, washed the sand encrusted wheels first then worked his way up the side, sanding the paint with a filthy rag !! He got pissed when I told him to stop. There are locations I won't park anywhere near because of this. Rocky Imports comes to mind. This is one issue that is markedly different for permanent residents than occasional visitors. I don't need my van washed 5 times a day, 7 days a week, with sand encrusted rags. If approached I'll pay them 10 pesos to leave the vehicle alone !!
Agreed. Definitely different for full-time residents. It irritates my husband and we don't even live there full time - yet. They won't stop unless extremely firm with your "NO" and waive your finger "no" at the same time.
 

Ladyjeeper

Sonoran Goddess
Staff member
Yeah, I was there then....Camping at the old Playa Hermosa campground across Calle 13 from the Playa Hermosa motel...It was a sand lot (no hook-ups) with a cinder block bathroom. The shower was a garden hose threaded thru the window....This was 1971....I WAS 14....Oh. the memories....
 

El Gato

Guest
Ladyjeeper - most of them don't have a clue to the wonderful days they missed of the early Penasco. Other than the main drag all the roads were sand - or cliche (if you were lucky). We always traveled with a shovel and my Dad's nickname was 'Digger'. Water was really precious as it was hauled into town from the 17 mile well. Theft was virtually known - my kids would leave their toys out and one never went missing. They used to bring extras down to share with their friends. There were only a few places to go in town and no big grocery store. A shower was a major event and to be relished for the few minutes you got (kids used to take a quick one under the leaky water trucks) - otherwise it was into the sea to get washed off. The Playa Hermosa had what they termed air conditioning - but only one room really worked well. And at Hector's Cantina you wore a wet bathing suit under your shift in order to get a little bit of cooling as you danced.

There was only one phone in town (the operator's) - no newspapers, no TV, no Internet (too be honest that hadn't been invented yet). You had the wait at the border while you got your visa (or you waved and 'ran' the border lol).

After the first Margarita very few people complained about anything. When you arrived your friends would gather for a party. You knew, at least by sight, almost everyone in town. And when they left they were only thinking about how fast they could get back down. On that, something never change :).

Ah Ladyjeeper, we were so lucky to have those days. I don't think anyone who wasn't there in the 40s - 70s could understand the lure of those lovely beaches (like Sandy Beach - difficult to get to) and a town where 'manana' was a wonderful way of life.
 

flicks

Guest
I remember the first time I went down there in the mid 60s. I was 15. Crossing the border and bribing the gentleman carrying a gun. $10 buck ." I didn't have a note stating, I had permission from my parents to accompany my friends family." Seemed a little scary at the time. But, we had a wonderful time sleeping on the dunes on Sandy Beach. Racing dune buggies and enjoying our teenage years. I continued to enjoy PP in my early 20's staying in the beach home near the second estuary. Fishing from shore ,pulling in sacks of sea bass & having wonderful fish fries. Running rails in town and having a beer in one of the local brothels/cantina's. < Only way we knew that, was the local ladies kept throwing orange rinds at us girls. Ha! Fast forward to around 1999. Started going down again and haven't stopped. Try to get down at least 5 times a year. Have a trailer now at Playa Bonita. The people are so warm and inviting. Have also met a great group from the states as well. Hope to retire and be down there at least 6 months a year..:)
 

Kenny

Guest
Natcho's huts in Cholla Bay in 57, with the "wild boy's" from where my Dad had worked (Hugh's Aircraft) camping on Sandy beach. My folks and Uncle Teddy made their first trip from Torrance in 55, but us kids didn't make the trip until we moved to Phoenix in 57.
 
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