Heading To Guaymas!

[jshepherd]

Well, Caitlin, Blaire (GemGeek) and I are headed to the Cortez pearl farm tomorrow! We'll fill you all in when we return!

[pattye]

That's great news! Safe travels!

[Josh]

That sounds like a lot of fun. Wish I could come. Enjoy!

[waimeamomi]

Can you beam me there, Scotty? Or is that Scotchy?

[GemGeek]

Can you beam me there, Scotty? Or is that Scotchy?

Scotchy? Snort! ;)

[Amrita]

Have fun! And we look forward to the stories of your trip! :)

[Josh]

Can you beam me there, Scotty? Or is that Scotchy?

Excellent.

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

Fun, fun, fun!

[Chameleon]

Have fun! Looking forward for the beautiful pics ;)

[Mikeyy]

Hey my mariachi partner left without me. Jeremy is singing solo this trip. Vaya con dios amigos aha!

[Nora]

That sounds like a lot of fun. Wish I could come. Enjoy!

Bon voyage y saludos a Douglas!

[Hanaleimom]

Can you beam me there, Scotty? Or is that Scotchy? Ha. I like that!

[jshepherd]

The first night in Guaymas!

[Keshibelle]

Aaaahhh what a great pic of a happy trio :) Thanks Jeremy.
Best wishes for a wonderful time and safe travels.

[la_corsetiere]

The first night in Guaymas!

What fun! And note the obviously placed water bottles to give it a nice wholesome touch (we know they're really filled with tequila...).

Have a great time, and please give my warmest regards to Douglas! And make sure he shows you his pearl crown...

Sheri

[CortezPearls]

Where are you Guys! I have been waiting for you since yesterday!
I am glad you made it to Guaymas...but could you just phone??? Just dial 22-101-36
Hope to see you soon :)

[Nora]

Where are you Guys! I have been waiting for you since yesterday!


It must be the tequila ;)

or, they only went for the tequila, they just used you as an excuse.

[pattye]

Hi Douglas,

Soooo sorry I couldn't make this trip, it is my dream to visit you one day! Plus obviously these three needed a trustworthy chaperone------;)

[Pearly Shell]

Oh how fun!! Can't wait to see more pictures of you all and Doug's glorious pearls!

[knotty panda]

Who took the pic?

[Hanaleimom]

I am guessing camera was set on self-timer.

[GemGeek]

What fun! And note the obviously placed water bottles to give it a nice wholesome touch (we know they're really filled with tequila...).

Have a great time, and please give my warmest regards to Douglas! And make sure he shows you his pearl crown...

Sheri

The scotch is just to the right. Jeremy actually moved it out of the shot! :eek:

[GemGeek]

Dinner, a whole snapper and chile rellenos stuffed with shrimp! Yum!!! ;)
8917

8918

Douglas being Douglas...
8919

On the farm...
8920

Douglas, Jeremy, Caitlin and Filomena, a small gray whale...
8921

[GemGeek]

And exhausted, but happy, we have a nightcap...

8922

[Marianne]

So glad that you are having such a well deserved wonderful time. Thanks for sharing. This is better than Calgon!
Marianne

[GemGeek]

Thanks! We got our butts wet on the boat today. Actually, I got most of my lower half wet, but it was well worth it. Then we went and ate street tacos -- yum! ;)

8923

8924

8926

8927

[Ramona]

Thank you! This helps over some boring work until is is late enough to go home. I wish I were there.

[jshepherd]

It's been a great trip so far! The food (and company) has been especially great. We are also learning a lot about Doug's operation down here.

[pattye]

Don't tell me Douglas is all out of pearls until the 2010 harvest----Please, so show me the pearls! LOL Tthe food looks fabulous!

[jshepherd]

I've taken a lot of pics, but can't upload them from here. Blaire will have to post some pearl pics!

[GemGeek]

Okay, okay, here are some pearls... ;)

8928

8929

8930

8931

8932

[Ramona]

I love the ring an the pendant! Beautiful.

[pattye]

Blaire,

Thank you soooo much! Those pics are just wonderful! Beautiful designs! And those mabe rings---so many different overtones! Amazing how the pearls look just as beautiful in gold or silver---------------

[ShashiRatna]

Beautiful pearls. I wish I was there too. And the food!!! - I love Chilie Relleno - and with shrimp!!! Hmmnn - my mouth is watering.

-SR

[Nora]

The thickness of the nacre is very impressive. Is that your hand, Jeremy? ;)

[Hanaleimom]

Thank you for sharing photos of your trip and the pearls. Are those mabe rings on silver? Why are there 2 ends sticking out of some rings? They look too short to be curled into spirals like the others?

[GemGeek]

Nora, it's my hand, but it does look like a "man hand" in the photo because it's kind of curled up to keep the pearl from flipping over.

Cathy, actually, I just had another look at the picture. When viewed from above the wires look more squiggly and it makes more sense.

Right now the signal is too low to post more photos, but I will post more when I get a chance. ;)

[Nerida]

I love the ring an the pendant! Beautiful.

me too, me too....

I am jealous...

[waimeamomi]

Side pearl ruckus trip??????

[GemGeek]

Side pearl ruckus trip??????

We talked about that, but it would be a trip to visit the pearl farm more than a ruckus. ;)

[dkan 168]

Both the food and the pearls look delicious! Thanks for sharing the pics! :D

DK :D

[Pearly Shell]

I can see us making time to ruckus while visiting the pearl farm. ;)

[waimeamomi]

And I could visit the pearl farm without ruckusing (there). Maybe a pre or post regular ruckus trip.

[GemGeek]

It's too hot to go to Guaymas July - September. And in September, hurricanes are a possibility! Maybe a spring 2011 trip minus the ruckus? ;)

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

It's too hot to go to Guaymas July - September. And in September, hurricanes are a possibility! Maybe a spring 2011 trip minus the ruckus? ;)

I would love to visit sometime during winter months.

The food, farm and area...... very nice.

[Chameleon]

Ooh, I am suddenly getting hungry. Can't get any of that authentic here, got to settle for something different :)

I love the necklace (third pic)!!! ..and some rings and the pendant... :D

Maria

[Caitlin]

Haiku for Douglas, Henrique, Manuel, Jesus

I.
Sea of Cortez pearl
Shimmering summer water
birthed florescent orbs.

II.
Three Princes of Pearls
working with simple supplies
nurturing the bay.

III.
Guaymas Sonora
Not an easy place to live
Save for rainbow pearls.

IV
Bacochibompo
gives rainbow pearls to the world.
Most people don’t notice.

[pattye]

Beautifully expressed, thank you, Caitlin-----------

[Nerida]

Beautifully expressed, thank you, Caitlin-----------

same sentiment from me...

[Caitlin]

Bacochibompo
Gives rainbow pearls to the world.
Most people don’t notice.

[Caitlin]

I went to the Cortez Pearls farm 3 days in a row in the company of Blaire and Jeremy. It is located in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico, in a former Bacochibampo (Ba co-chi-bam-po) bayside private college for marine studies. In fact, both Douglas and Henrique went to college there together. Now the college is closed but the complex of buildings has been recycled a bit here and there. It is home to a private high school now. What was formerly the grand entrance of the previous tenant, houses the learning center of Sea of Cortez’ small farming operation and a store with nothing but Sea of Cortez cultured pearls. The operational center is down the hill, right on the water, shown in the picture above.



Blaire and Jeremy relaxing.

[Caitlin]

Douglas, Enrique and Manuel are the trifecta that manages the only sea pearl farm on this continent, indeed, in the New World. As well as being pearl farmers, these guys are well educated, trained scientists, with bigger dreams than they have yet accomplished. No, not dreams of expanding until they are huge and rich; there is little room for that in their philosophy. They are not in it for the money though at least one wishes the farm income were enough to support him without taking extra jobs. They are in it for the pearl of the Rainbow-lipped pinctada, a pearl oyster unlike any other in the world. And by extension, they are in it for the shell the pearl came in, the bay the shell grew in, the sea the bay comes from. And so on.

As it is, Sea of Cortez Pearls are the rarest cultured pearls in the world. The four major cultured pearl types: freshwaters, akoyas, south sea and Tahitian pearls all produce tons of pearls a year, a mountain of pearls. Part of the rarity of The Sea of Cortez pearls is because they come from another species of pearl oyster entirely, the pteria sterna, the rainbow-lipped oyster. This farm produces a total of about 12 pounds of pearls a year, total. That’s it. That’s rare and exclusive by any measure.

These are not ordinary pearls. Though they are a “black pearl” as the Tahitians are and there is some overlap in the amount of color between Tahitians and the Cortez pearls, the Cortez pearls have a high rate of almost abalone-like colored pearls, unlike the Tahitians do . OK, let’s say we can imagine they are ½ Tahitian, ½ abalone-like colored pearls in their best examples. The quality of the color does vary as it does in Tahitians. As it goes down, the pearls become more blue silvery, though the same colors are present, they are more subtle. Not as saturated.
One more unique quality that these pearls possess is they fluoresce under black lights. They glow red! No other cultured pearl can lay claim to that! What an easy test for authenticity. This pearl will not need much testing by the GIA.

[Mikeyy]

Don't ya just love the sea of Cortez. Its like a flooded moonscape. I have spent a lot of time down in Mulege and La Paz. In fact I spent some time down there years ago with Dr. Mario Monteforte. He was trying to get investors to help start a pearl farm. He was working on a hatchery and was raising spat that he and his students had collected with onion sacks. It was a really nice time. I'll try to post some pictures. He grew a few pearls.....well they were kind of like pearls. But they never really got a serious seeding program going. Not enough investment. And I think I remember that the government wasn't cooperating as well as they could have.
Dr. Monteforte was a good guy though. And we drove all the way to Cabo San Lucas.
Went fishing for tuna, Got slammed at Cabo Wabo......The usual stuff.

There is more to the story but it will have to wait until the ruckus. LOL

[Caitlin]

Hi Mikeyy
I hope you do put them up!

I saw a busload of tourists visit the farm. After the farm they could return to the information center and look at jewelry featuring mostly rainbow mabe pearls. They looked desultorily, some bought and they left.

Later that night, I lay insomnia-addled, my mind overwhelmed and racing from all the input, I had a fantasy of standing up on the balcony above the showroom floor and clapping for the attention of the tourists. I would introduce myself saying I am part of a group of pearl experts (hang my head- this was a fantasy!) that has been visiting for three days. That they (the tourists) may not realize it, but if they do not get a Sea of Cortez pearl now, while they were here, they would be missing the chance of a lifetime to get their hands on one of the most rare and beautiful pearls in the world.

These pearls should be priceless. Instead, tourists can buy them at the farm store at very low prices. Except from the farm itself, there are only three other places in the world you can buy them and they will cost far more.
These are the earrings I picked out.

[GemGeek]

I recognize that last photo. That's the beach where we each had at least a hundred flies in our hair. Really. Jeremy wouldn't let us back in the car until we got all the flies off. ;) One of the rare problems we encountered!

[GemGeek]

I must say that Caitlin looks amazing with her new earrings. I should have taken her photo, but she only wore them once. ;)

[Caitlin]

There are some lovely 18 ct gold pieces set with the pearls, beautifully displayed, but there are many, many more mabe pearls set in .925. I would say to the tourists, “Pick the pearl you like best. Do not worry about the settings; they can easily be redesigned to your personal taste later.”

I was short-circuited a bit by the number of rings crowded together in one case, then another, with rather indifferent settings. It was too crowded and my eye bounced around and couldn’t settle on just one of the choir of little mabes clamoring for my attention.

I wish they were separated with more space between them- in less crowded cases with the emphasis on the mabes themselves. Each one has a different part of the spectrum. Each mabe is complex in and of itself and deserves space enough to expand to its full glory without the others crowding in on the edges.

I absolutely love the classic style of my earrings. That little band around the mabe pearl is a very traditional touch and indicates the southwestern origin of the jewelry. I see there are some more simple rings in there and I far prefer those.

[SheB]

Thank you for these great posts! I never even knew that there were such beautiful pearls coming out of Mexico, and your pictures have been wonderful.

[pattye]

Caitlin,

Adore your new mabe earrings, the silver is perfect, and your favorite metal also! Picking from all those beauties would be sooooo difficult! What value in $ is a person allowed to bring back from Mexico?

Do keep the stories coming------------

[KauaiAnne]

Ooooh, how beautiful! How large are the earrings? Now a bunch of P-Gers wish they had sent a shopping list with you! Does the farm do any online sales?

[CortezPearls]

Not enough investment. And I think I remember that the government wasn't cooperating as well as they could have.

Mikey: It is not a matter of investment nor government cooperation from my viewpoint. As a matter of fact, if we sum up all the money the Federal Government of Mexico has invested on Monteforte's research program (including salaries starting from 1991) they have easily invested many times more that what we have since 1994, when we began this as a very modest research program.

[CortezPearls]

I was short-circuited a bit by the number of rings crowded together in one case, then another, with rather indifferent settings. It was too crowded and my eye bounced around and couldn’t settle on just one of the choir of little mabes clamoring for my attention.
I wish they were separated with more space between them- in less crowded cases with the emphasis on the mabes themselves. Each one has a different part of the spectrum. Each mabe is complex in and of itself and deserves space enough to expand to its full glory without the others crowding in on the edges.


Yes, you are right about this. But it is the best way we can display as many items as possible and in the fastest time as well, before the tourists are sweeped away to their buses... we only have 40 minutes before they leave.

By the way, I just wanted to say that I feel honored for the poem you dedicated to us. We may have many happy visitors to our farm, but this is the first time someone has dedicated a lovely poem. Thank You Caitlin :)

[pattye]

And that sunset is much like the colors in the Sea of Cortez pearls--------

[Caitlin]

Ooooh, how beautiful! How large are the earrings? Now a bunch of P-Gers wish they had sent a shopping list with you! Does the farm do any online sales?

Edited to say. I found the online shop. See Post #83.

US did not even ask if you have anything to declare except certain fruits and a munitions/dope check by a dog.

Getting there is not that hard. Take a plane from Tucson at about $500 each way. Stay in a hotel in San Carlos, which is touristy and English is understood by many. Take the bus tour to the Cortez Pearl Farm.

Or take the bus from Tucson for about $40. each way. The bus was clean modern comfortable. I heard Mexico has the best bus system in the world. The bus stop in Guaymas is across the street from the Hotel Armida and down about 40 yards. The Hotel Armida starts at about $70 for economy. We shared so it was half that.

A rented car helped once we got there. It allowed us to eat the best food!!! But the hotel people do not understand English. I am glad we could call on Jeremy to help us with the desk. If you don't have a Spanish speaker with you, staying in San Carlos is a better bet.

[Mikeyy]

Mikey: It is not a matter of investment nor government cooperation from my viewpoint. As a matter of fact, if we sum up all the money the Federal Government of Mexico has invested on Monteforte's research program (including salaries starting from 1991) they have easily invested many times more that what we have since 1994, when we began this as a very modest research program.No argument here. You would know more then I would about it. I was offering to help at the time and had some friends from Japan and Australia who had some interest in seeding etc. But for some reason things just seemed to be sticky in La Paz. I honestly don't remember all the details. It was a few years ago now.
Sounds like there is some history there with you and them. I don't have a dog in that fight. I will say that I enjoyed the trip and I always love Baja any time I get a chance to visit. And I do like your product. Salute!

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

Douglas, Enrique and Manuel are the trifecta that manages the only sea pearl farm on this continent, indeed, in the New World. As well as being pearl farmers, these guys are well educated, trained scientists, with bigger dreams than they have yet accomplished. No, not dreams of expanding until they are huge and rich; there is little room for that in their philosophy. They are not in it for the money though at least one wishes the farm income were enough to support him without taking extra jobs. They are in it for the pearl of the Rainbow-lipped pinctada, a pearl oyster unlike any other in the world. And by extension, they are in it for the shell the pearl came in, the bay the shell grew in, the sea the bay comes from. And so on.
.

Thank you for this travelogue, the pictures and the intrigue!


... since 1994, when we began this as a very modest research program.

Douglas, you and your collegues are an inspiration. Not only for breaking the glass ceiling in North American pearl culture, but also for the tenacity to bring your work into production. Apart from that, I absolutely love how you've instilled and maintained a very "Mexican" flair to your products. Such beauty and rarity.

Little did I realize, I was likely the first person in the Americas to receive a pearl farm license, despite the absence of a production plan. One other person, Dr. Peter Fankboner followed my application with an abalone project, but also lacked viability. He has long since retired.

Perhaps one day, I may be so fortunate as Jeremy, Blaire and Caitlin were, to visit your farm.

[GemGeek]

Dave -- gentleman pearl farmer -- it could be in your future! ;)

[Caitlin]

Hey Douglas!
I am sure you all do everything perfectly given your time and circumstances and the most efficient way! In fact, I know you do. It is one of the things that is so outstanding about the Sea of Cortez operation. I am leaving it to the pros to describe your operation and get technical details correct

My whole post was fantasy-driven that I would stand up and pitch tourists in the first place?? !! Those mabe in the silver rings kind of remind me of the little spat, wiggling around on the nets. Little life forms in boxes clamoring to get adopted.....

I can't believe a poetic place like Guaymas hasn't had more poetry written about it! Technically, that was 4 verses of haiku, including the one starting with "Bacochibampo" in the next post. I need to fix one of the first three so it fits the haiku format better.

My gift to you. Enjoy!

[GemGeek]

Caitlin the romantic poet, and a great roommate too! ;)

[pearlescence]

There is at least one other seller with Cortez pearls..(only three, but then there isn't much of a market for them)

[knotty panda]

Douglas, you live in paradise!

Talk about translating, I got one of these for school about a year ago, but I've found it invaluable for other things in daily life as well. It has a translator. Just write the word in English, tap on the word, and it will say the word in whatever language you choose. It even translates to Mandarin if you wish. Technology, what a marvel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekjw1ewyAUU&NR=1

[Caitlin]

Hey Roomy!
Things sure were mellow, weren't they?

Guaymas has perfect weather this time of year and in the fall. During the summer, it is near 120 f, at worst and 99% humidity. No winds in the summer. Winter is cold and the wind makes it seem worse. Those Guaymas-ers are a tough breed!

But if you can get used to it, and not many can, it is a great place to live. It is not tourist-y and probably won't be.

[CortezPearls]

No argument here. You would know more then I would about it. I was offering to help at the time and had some friends from Japan and Australia who had some interest in seeding etc. But for some reason things just seemed to be sticky in La Paz. I honestly don't remember all the details. It was a few years ago now.
Sounds like there is some history there with you and them. I don't have a dog in that fight. I will say that I enjoyed the trip and I always love Baja any time I get a chance to visit. And I do like your product. Salute!

We get along just fine these days...we did have some frictions in the past, but it is now all in the past. We have the future to keep an eye on, don't we all?
A question: your Jap/Aussie friends were seeding techs??? Did they ever have a chance to seed any MOPs in La Paz??? If you have the time...please do tell! I am registering EVERYTHING about Pearl Culture in Mexico and would really hate to miss something.
Thanks for the information! It has already proven valuable... :)

[CortezPearls]

Guaymas has perfect weather this time of year and in the fall. During the summer, it is near 120 f, at worst and 99% humidity. No winds in the summer. Winter is cold and the wind makes it seem worse. Those Guaymas-ers are a tough breed!

But if you can get used to it, and not many can, it is a great place to live. It is not tourist-y and probably won't be.

You are quite right about that! But many of our visitors are Canadians and Americans (from the northern-most States) that migrate when the snow starts falling up north, they enjoy our "mild winters" (for them, at least) and then migrate north for summer. For thousands of these people, Guaymas-San Carlos is their second-home. :D

[Amrita]

Thanks for the travelogue and the lovely photos! Really enjoyed the stories, and admire the courage of Cortez pearls - Douglas and his team! :-)

[Mikeyy]

We get along just fine these days...we did have some frictions in the past, but it is now all in the past. We have the future to keep an eye on, don't we all?
A question: your Jap/Aussie friends were seeding techs??? Did they ever have a chance to seed any MOPs in La Paz??? If you have the time...please do tell! I am registering EVERYTHING about Pearl Culture in Mexico and would really hate to miss something.
Thanks for the information! It has already proven valuable... :)I will send you some pics and information

[Nerida]

Sounds like you all had a great time in Guaymas ... still get lobster and marghueritas down there??
Douglas, your pearls are beautiful, and it is fabulous to listen to an interesting narrative from your guests. One day, one day....

[Miriam Reed]

Lovely to see some more of your pearls, Douglas. I love those colors. Sounds like you all had a good time.

[GemGeek]

still get lobster and marghueritas down there??
....

Yes to the drinks, and it seems we had every seafood, but lobster! We had ocotpus two different ways and some kind of delicious cocktail that had many many things in it. The night before I left, I went for lobster with my friend Jo Ellen and I remember thinking it was silly to stuff myself with lobster before going to Guaymas. Then we got there and I don't remember lobster even being mentioned.

The really funny thing was me convincing Jeremy we should try the tuna pate', as everything we had at that restaurant was sensational. It was ordinary tuna from a can mixed with mayo. What a disappointment, but a good laugh! :eek:

[jshepherd]

Yes, tuna pâté was a bit of a disappointment:p Straight from the can! Everything else there was amazing, though.

That cocktail that had everything (raw) in it was called maleficio.

[Caitlin]

maleficio bueno

[waimeamomi]

Another place to add to my list of most visit. Nerida, maybe we can make the trip one of these days.

[Caitlin]

LINK (http://www.perlasshop.com/categories/Cortez-Cultured-Pearls/)

The Cortez pearls online store.

[Keshibelle]

Thank you for the link Caitlin, they are beautiful pearls in stunning designs! Thanks to you, GemGeek, Jeremy and Douglas for this fabulous thread :) In reading all the posts I feel like I've been to Mexico too lol.

Once again thanks to p-g I'm a happy armchair traveller visiting distant pearly places :D