As we were driving around Puerto Peñasco the other day, we noticed a new shop right next to the Lavamatica (Laundromat) Peñasco. The sign over the door read CIA Computadores. The laundromat is owned by Sr. Gerardo Portugal, and we soon found out that he is also the owner of the computer shop. He invited us into his office, and we noticed on his bookshelves several familiar computer publications, such as Computer Shopper. On shelves above the windows were boxes for such computer programs as Quattro Pro, MS-DOS 62, Energy +, Quicken, and Solución Contable by Computación en Acción. This last was especially interesting to us.
Sr. Portugal, who is an accountant by profession, described the software as one that will keep accounts in Spanish and then, by pressing a key, convert all the Spanish terminology into English. It sounded like something we could use. The company that makes it is affiliated with Microsoft.
The new business is a consultation and distribution service for various computer software programs, especially those dealing with accounting, sales, payroll, and financial management.
We talked about the Internet and the possibilities of getting a server for Puerto Peñasco. Right now it is expensive for users to log on because they have to pay the cost of a long distance call to Hermosillo, Mexicali, Tucson, or Phoenix. It would be very desirable to have one here, but expensive to get it started. Sr. Portugal thinks there are many local business people that would be interested.
The laundromat was started by Gerardo Portugal's father in 1970. He has taken it over and now runs it. It's obviously very successful. There are 27 washing machines and 13 dryers. In addition to allowing people to do their own laundry, the business also offers the service of taking in clothes and washing, drying, and folding them for customers.
Some construction workers appeared outside, and Sr. Portugal told us that he is expanding his business to include a beauty shop on one side of his building and a car wash on the other. This location will be "Clean Corner."
The Portugal family is an interesting one, and we learned more about it. There are four brothers and two sisters. We already knew Gerardo's brother Alejandro, who has an insurance business in Puerto Peñasco. One sister, Janet, lives in Hermosillo and sells insurance there. She is married to Sergio Lopez Araujo, an engineer, who was in Gerardo's office with him that day. He too is much interested in computers and the Internet. Cristina lives in Douglas, Arizona, and is married to a doctor there. Gilberto, who lives in Tiajuana, is a state congressman for Baja California, the president of the local chapter of the PRI, and a land developer. Ernesto is a pastor of the Iglesia de Dios (Church of God) in Puerto Peñasco and has a radio program called "Escuela para Padres" (School for Parents).
Gerardo Portugal is married and has two children. His son is named Bolivar Gerardo, after Simon Bolivar, one of his heroes. His daughter is named Albita, for her mother Alba. She is 11, and Gerardo, Jr. is 15 and plays soccer. His father was taking him to a practice as we left.
According to Gerardo, his grandfather, Rev. Alejandro Portugal, was very influential in establishing the Church of God in Mexico. He was a man of incredible energy, who became a legend in his own time. At a young age he was in Tucson when he lost his sight . At about the same time, he was converted. Although blind, he was a superb horseman and served in the revolution. His son, Gerardo's uncle, was also a minister, Rev. Alejandro Portugal, Jr. During the 30's, 40's, and 50's, he was head of the Church of God in all Latin America, with an office in Buenos Aires.
Later that morning we went to the office of Gerardo's brother, Alejandro Portugal, to make a payment on our insurance policy. He too was very busy, but while we waited we chatted with his attractive assistants. His outer office was ornamented with large ironwood carvings: a shrimp, a shark, a deer dancer, a horse, a stag, a swordfish, and two representations of the eagle and the snake that appear on the Mexican flag. There were a couple of other eagles in his inner office. When we asked him, he admitted that he loves eagles. He told us that he has been in the insurance business here for 17 years. While we were there the door opened and in walked his brother Gerardo and brother-in-law Sergio. It was good to see them after such a short time.
Another new business in Puerto Peñasco is "Bubbles and Things," owned by Peter and Denise (Nisee) Mauk, owners of Puerto de Oro Construction. It had just opened October 1. We went to see it in the afternoon. Outside next to the gate, a little model of their building was putting out soap bubbles through a round opening; some children were trying to catch them in their hands. As we entered, we noticed on a table in the entrance hall a set of beautiful hand-painted dishes in two shades of blue with a yellow fish on each one. The set included matching napkin rings and serving dishes. The design of the cups was very creative; a fish with a fanned-out tail formed the handle of each one. This was only the first of many delights to come.
In the office Nisee was at her computer showing something to a customer. She turned around and said, "Oh, hi, John. We're looking at your Internet Web Page. I was just going to send you an e-mail message." Sure enough, there on her computer screen was the collage of Puerto Peñasco photos Rod had put together. The customer seemed impressed, and of course we were much gratified to see our efforts appreciated.
Two American couples came in. One of the women saw the set of dishes right away and exclaimed over them. "Look at those," she said. "Aren't they gorgeous?" She couldn't take her eyes off them.
We went through the shop, which was more like a museum. There were a great many lovely things, ranging from a huge wall piece representing the Aztec calendar stone done in inlaid wood of various colors to several exquisite china dinnerware and tea sets. Everything was made in Mexico, and everything was high quality. We saw a beautiful little candle holder made from a ring of silver ornamented with a copper leaf and flower design. There were Christmas tree ornaments in traditional Mexican materials and designs, pottery and ceramics, statuary, art metalwork, food canisters decorated with Mexican designs in vivid colors--something to suit every taste and budget.
The woman who had admired the hand-painted dishes--we'll call her Sharon--was now talking with Nisee about them. She seemed to be getting serious. "Did you look at the ones in the other room?" asked her friend--we'll call her Patti.
"No," she said. "This is as far as I got." She took a quick peek into the other room where there were several sets displayed. "No," she said emphatically. "They're beautiful, but they're not me. These are." She asked Patti to go and find her husband. She seemed to be afraid to leave the dishes for fear someone else would buy them.
As we were looking around, the door opened, and in walked Gerardo and Alejandro Portugal and Sergio Lopez. It was the third time that day we'd seen them. Pete invited them to look at the Puerto Peñasco Web Page, and they did. As photo after photo filled the screen, they watched. Suddenly Alejandro Portugal said, "That's my boat--that yellow one!" Of course we had had no idea when taking the picture whose boat it was--it had just looked photogenic.
The conversation returned to our topic of the morning, how to get an Internet server in Puerto Peñasco. Pete had apparently done some research on it and had some ideas to contribute. The two Portugals and their brother-in-law, all successful businessmen, were very much interested and said they would try to get something going. It looks like a nucleus has formed already.
As we went out the door, we saw Patti and her husband sitting at a table under the trees waiting. Sharon was still standing in front of the dishes, looking at them adoringly. Glancing back, our last image was of her holding a plate in one hand and caressing it with the other.
The idea of an Internet server in Puerto Peñasco is exciting. Anyone who wants to work on such a project should contact Gerardo Portugal or Peter Mauk.
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