Mexico: Pitaya Sorbet from Cacti Fruits

 

I often drove by a small makeshift market stall with signs: "Pitaya Nieve" and was wondering what they are selling and what pitaya is.  Then I learned that it is an extremely healthy fruit of a cactus. Nieve means snow, but in many parts of Mexico, it's used to mean ice cream and sorbet.

Pitaya, also known as Dragon Fruit, is a superfruit indigenous to Central and South America that is now grown all over the world. Dragon fruit also called "pitaya" or "pitahaya," is the vibrant-colored and sweet-tasting fruit of cactus plants: Pitayo cactus (Stenocereus queretaroensis), a bushy tree-like cactus.  It is relatively easy to grow, particularly for those in tropical or subtropical locations where maintenance is minimal.

This “ice cream” or dragon fruit sorbet recipe is made with frozen fruit and fruit juices.  Dragon fruit, or pitaya, is frozen after being cut into cubes, along with frozen bananas.  Once your fruit is frozen, it’s easy to put this vegan sorbet recipe together.  Simply add your frozen fruit, along with some raspberry puree, and fresh squeezed orange juice, to a high-speed blender.  Add some scraped vanilla bean or vanilla extract, if desired, and your healthy dessert is complete.

You can enjoy this vegan ice cream right out of the blender and it will have a soft-serve consistency.  If you’d prefer it to be thicker and “scoopable” to put on a cone, you can put it in a shallow dish and cover it, and then freeze it for 2-3 hours. 

According to Wikipedia: "Pitaya has been an important food source for indigenous peoples of the Americas.  The Seri people of northwestern Mexico still harvest the fruit, and call the plant ziix is ccapxl "thing whose fruit is sour".

The fruit of the organ pipe cactus (S. thurberi, called ool by the Seris) is the pitaya dulce "sweet pitaya".  It has a more tart taste than Selenicereus fruit, described as somewhat reminiscent of watermelon.  Sweet pitayas come in three types".

100 grams of dried pitaya provides 264 kilocalories of food energy, 82% carbohydrates, 4% protein, and 11% of the daily value each for vitamin C and calcium.  Who would have thought that sorbet or ice cream can be so healthy?

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Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, and Whale-Watching in Baja California Sur

 

 

As the ultimate sports destination, La Ventana Mexico lures adventure seekers to its sandy shores with the promise of consistent offshore winds and waves. While it’s only an hour away from the bustling, tequila-fueled resort strips in Cabo San Lucas, La Ventana feels authentic–a place with dusty, bumpy roads, framed by cacti and quiet beaches in lieu of mega-resorts and buffet lines.

In La Ventana, sun seekers, mountain bikers, surfers, SUP’ers, kayakers, kiteboarders, snorkelers, divers, and anglers load up their gear and head down to play in the surf, with a stunning backdrop of the Sea of Cortez and Jacques Cousteau Island.  

While I am writing this article, I can see whales playing in the bay of La Ventana - just from my large window room front at the Tango Azul vacation apartment.  From late December to the end of March lots of Blue, Fin, Humpback, Gray, Sperm, Brydes, Sei, and Mink Whales are coming to La Ventana Bay and the Sea of Cortez on the Eastern side of Baja California Sur.

Baja Underwater Expeditions / Cerralvo Divers

La Ventana - Isle Cerralvo Diving

From fall to early spring it is a kite surfing town with a small population of local fishermen and home to a gateway to Jacques Cousteau Island. The famous ocean explorer led many expeditions in this area and so the Mexican Government changed the name from Cerralvo Island in 2009 in honor of his conservation work. La Ventana: a kite surfing town with a small population of local fishermen and home to a gateway to Jacques Cousteau Island. The famous ocean explorer led many expeditions in this area and so the Mexican Government changed the name from Cerralvo Island in 2009 in honor of his conservation work. Many of the locals prefer to use its real name ‘Cerralvo’.

A huge dolphin population lives in the area too, and in the last few years, orcas encounters are becoming very popular! In one word, La Ventana is a truly magical place. Under the surface, a true multicolor paradise is waiting for all the divers that want something new to explore. Besides La Reina, very famous for the giant mantas, we can explore several unknown dive sites, all rich in marine life and beautiful coral formations.

Duration: 6 hours

Capacity: Min. 2 pax Max. 8 pax

Price: USD $180 for two tanks – USD $210 for three tanks  (100 USD = 95 Euros)

Includes:  Roundtrip transportation by boat, certified dive guide, 2 or 3 tanks

Complete diving equipment (fins, visor, regulator, vest, weights)

Lunch, fruits, and drinks

Phone +52 987 1171354 / +52 612 2127511
La Ventana - Calle Manzanillo y Corredor Isla, 8am - 5 pm

E-MAILinfo@bajaunderwaterexpeditions.com

https://bajaunderwaterexpeditions.com/Expeditions/la-ventana/

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Baja Wild Encounters 

They offer not only snorkel and scuba diving tours but also whale-watching tours.  Dive around the Southern Island in the Sea of Cortez, Isla Cerralvo also known as Jacques Cousteau Island.  Here we can see large Pelagic Fish, Sea Lions, Giant Oceanic Manta Rays from July to October, Mobula Rays, and adventure through small caves and swim-throughs.  Dive sites are available for all levels of divers.

3500 pesos (around USD$175) per Diver*, departure is around 8 am

Included are the boat, captain, guide, 2 tanks, weights, snacks, and water.

Whale Watching Day Trips and even Multi-Day trips are available at a request

Activity Days: 1 Day trip - 6 hours

Trip Cost: 3,000 Pesos (around USD$150) per person - Minimum of 4 people on tour, or cover cost of 4 people.

https://bajawildencounters.com/about

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Cabo Pulmo National Park

It is the national marine park on the east coast of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula, spanning the distance between Pulmo Point and Los Frailes Cape, approximately 3 hours south of La Paz. Cabo Pulmo is home to the oldest of only three coral reefs on the west coast of North America. Estimated to be 20,000 years old, it is the northernmost coral reef in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The reef has a number of fingers of hard coral atop rock outcroppings that run parallel to the coast, occurring in progressively deeper water offshore. The area was designated a national park in 1995, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005.

Cabo Pulmo National Park is home to over 6,000 marine species. Principle among these is the famous sea lions of the area. In terms of other large species, the park is also home to humpback whales, sharks, and whale sharks. Huge groupers, turtles, and large schools of jacks are readily available. Tropical fish are abundant, and the occasional reef and bull shark can also be found close to prey. Underwater photographers will be amazed at the diversity of macro life found on this rare coral reef. 

Pulmo Ntl Park Scuba-Diving

Several coral reefs at Cabo Pulmo attract schools of rays, turtles, enormous groupers, large schools of jacks, porkfish, tropical fish, and even sharks every once in a while. 

Most of the dive sites are shallow (30-40 feet) and located only a 10-15 minute boat ride from shore. The shallow depth of the dives and easy contours of the bottom, allow long and very easy drift dives.

Duration: Approx. 3:30 hours

Includes: National park fee, 2 tanks, and lunch

Without Transportation - Price: USD$125 

With Round Trip Transportation - Price: $275 USD (100 USD = 95 Euros)

Rental Equipment: USD$ 35 

https://cabopulmotravel.com/scuba-diving-tours/

https://www.cabopulmo.com/diving

Diving in La Paz

Espiritu Santo Island – 2 tanks day trip

1 day USD$180 

Includes: Guide, taxes 16%, snacks, lunch, and drinks

Rental gear is free

They are a group of French-Mexican friends, who share their love for diving, the Sea of Cortez, and the protection of marine ecosystems. The owner Alexia is a French marine biologist. All the members of her team have many years of experience in diving and the sea of Cortez and around La Paz.

http://diveinlapaz.com/services/trips-dive/

Cabo San Lucas Marine Park Diving

Watch the unique Sand falls phenomenon, an underwater avalanche of sand

Dive with the playful sea lions next to the famous arch

Enjoy a tour around the Land’s End area: see Lover’s Beach, the Sea Lion’s Colony, the famous arch, and the Pacific

Experience a ride on our well-shaded, fully equipped, and custom-made dive boats

Dive in small groups with a PADI-certified Divemaster or instructor.  Daily 8 am and 1 pm, approx. 3:30 hrs

Includes: 2 tanks, a guide, weights, and drinking water

Price USD$125

Dive gear rental full set – $38

Nitrox tank up to 32% – $10

Phone +52-624-9800640

Blvd. Marina #7D Local 37 Int. Plaza Gali

https://www.mantacabo.com/trip/diving-in-cabo-reserve/
Video:

https://vimeo.com/147187290

Diving in Baja California Sur is excellent year-round but each season brings its own gems.  July to November has excellent visibility (25m). This season is also prime time for whale sharks (best chances in October/November) and offers the warmest water (73-85°F/23-30°C).

Cooler waters between December and March (64-68°F/18-20°C) bring different creatures.  Now is the best time to come face-to-face with humpback whales and mobula rays.  Whatever time of year you visit, your logbook will be pleasantly full after diving in Baja California Sur.

https://www.padi.com/diving-in/baja-california-sur

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Enjoy your time underwater, watching the marine animals flow by.

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Maritime Murals of La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico

 

La Paz, the port city of Baja California Sur: In its waters, beaches, and mountains artists find the inspiration that leads them to create works of art to tell stories, myths and legends where the interconnection of local inhabitants and nature is the main protagonist.

Colorful murals in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico, display the cultural origins of the town, as well as the rich relationship with the sea: whale sharks, dolphins, sea lions, even coyotes, and fishermen. For many years, Jacques Cousteau researched and documented the Sea of Cortez around La Paz and called it the "aquarium of the world".

The creators of these often huge murals are artists from all over Mexico. Initiated in 2009, "Ciudad Mural" has now illustrated colorful local stories in more than 16 Mexican cities.

In recent years there has been a boom in murals throughout La Paz. One can discover about 50 murals in the city center alone.  In some of the murals, there are even small signs with the name of the artist, the painting, and a short description.  

With murals over 30 meters long, the city is full of color, which has been expanding to include the roads leading to the most emblematic beaches of La Paz.

There is even a virtual city walk offered to discover the murals downtown. 

Follow: #streetartlpz and @PureLaPaz

https://www.golapaz.com/

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Murals are popular all over Mexico

The Muralist Movement lasted approximately half a century, from the early 1920s to the 1970s - and still continues.  Through it, both the art and culture of Mexico were put at the service of society and the ideals of the Mexican Revolution. 

Muralist painters, many of whom were no strangers to political activism, used the walls of public buildings, palaces, universities, and libraries to tell both the story of the revolution and of the daily life of the people. 

The mural paintings defined the nation’s identity and recognized Mexico’s indigenous ancestry.  They documented the suffering of the indigenous at the hands of the Spanish conquistadores, while also recognizing Mexico’s shared history and culture. 

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The Mexican muralists influenced artists throughout the Americas, and some murals were painted in the United States, including the Epic of American Civilization by José Clemente Orozco at the Dartmouth College.

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However, there is more art to find in La Paz, the Malecon, a five-kilometer-long boardwalk with bicycle and roller skate lanes are more than a dozen impressive sculptures. Find them in the next blog.

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