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DO WE KNOW ROCKY POINT?

Thad Curtis is the owner of Mexico Trip Insurance. He first started working along the border in 1965, when he was assigned to Gila Bend, Arizona as an Arizona Highway Patrolman.

Thad worked out of both Gila Bend and Ajo between 1965 and 1969. He switched agencies and retired as a Lieutenant with the Pima County Sheriff's Department in Tucson, AZ.

Before retiring, he took a leave of absence from the Sheriff's Department. On leave, he ran the Arizona Department of Liquor License and Control for two governors. He returned to the Pima County Sheriff's Department in 1988, and retired in 1989.

During his career of over 27 years as a peace officer, he worked for 5 agencies and he became the Chief of two. He was honored early in his career by being appointed as the youngest chief of police in the United States. He was 21 years old!

He is most proud of his appointment to the old Arizona Highway Patrol in 1965. Prior to the Patrol becoming part of the Arizona Department of Public Safety, it was a small and very elite agency. It was dedicated to serving the public on the highways and byways of the state, and provided backup when other agencies requested assistance. Helping the Sheriff's Department with the bar fights when the miners were on two days off, after working 26 days straight, was pretty rough at times.

In 1967 he met and married Luz 'Nola' Mendez-Montijo. He was a young single officer serving in Ajo where the men worked in the copper mine, went to college, joined the military or moved away. Not so with the young women. There was an abundance of beautiful women in Ajo. He noticed Luz and she had noticed him. He knew her brother and managed a date. The rest is history!

During these years, he not only worked along the border in law enforcement, but he was in the loop as a member of the largest extended Hispanic family in the Arizona/Sonora area. With his contacts, nothing much happened along the Arizona/Mexico border, or in Rocky Point (Puerto Penasco), that he didn't know about.

Since retirement, he has been in business in the Ajo area. He has been involved in writing tens of thousands of Mexico Insurance policies each year. Mexican insurance is mandatory and business has been good. Travel to Rocky Point, Sonora, Mexico (Puerto Penasco) has become Rocky Point's primary industry-replacing commercial fishing.

He and Luz raised their children along the border, with many, trips to Rocky Point and Cholla Bay, and other parts of Mexico. So, between 1965, and present, Thad Curtis has been involved in law enforcement, business and just living an abundant life in the border area of Arizona, making frequent trips to Mexico and with daily interaction with friends and relatives.

Puerto Penasco (Rocky Point) and Cholla Bay, and those traveling between these places and Arizona, have been a part of his daily life for over 40 years.

He knows a lot of little, but very important, things like the paperwork required by the Mexican government for taking a dog or cat into Mexico is not what they ask for in Puerto Penasco if your dog bites someone. A copy of the vaccination certificate always seems to suffice. No one even asks as you enter at Lukeville. (Going farther south? Get the papers from a Mexican Consulate!)

He knows that you CAN drink the water in Rocky Point. It tastes lousy, but it's drinkable. (This is why Corona, Tecate and Pacifico sell so well.) He knows the old standby places like JJs Cantina, Baja Cantina, Manny's Beach Club and the Pink Cadillac.

He knows the very best places to eat, too. Rocky Point is a fun place, with at least a hundred good places, with new places every month.

Old Port Galley in old town is one of his favorites. The Lluvia del Mar Hotel has a café called Las Olas (The Waves). Their food is great. Rosy's Café is a small family run cafe. Don't miss this one!

Try the new ones, but don't miss his old favorites! Oh yes, don't forget to ask where Rene is the Chef. Wherever he is, the shrimp will be great. Try the Light House, too. Thad recommends Coconut Shrimp. Hungry?

He says, "If you miss any of these places, if you don't experience an 'all you can eat fish & chips lunch' at The Old Port Galley, a prime rib at Baja Cantina, and if you overlook an evening of great food, unforgettable music and enjoyment at The Lighthouse, you have missed the very essence of Puerto Penasco!"

THAD C CURTIS, ARIZONA'S FIRST LICENSED MEXICAN INSURANCE SURPLUS LINES BROKER, IN MEXICO WITH GRANDSON, COOPER.

PURCHASE YOUR POLICY FROM OUR LICENSED AGENT. IT IS SENT TO THE EMAIL ADDRESS YOU ENTER. OR, YOU CAN RECEIVE IT BY MAIL, OR PICK IT UP ON YOUR WAY IF YOU ARE PASSING THROUGH AJO, ARIZONA.

IS ROCKY POINT A SAFE PLACE TO GO?

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