C O M M U N I T Y & L E G A C Y

“Her education was international, but her roots were always in Los Cabos.”

My parents have German roots. My father arrived in Mexico at a very young age, which led him to fully embrace Mexican culture, while my mother always preserved her German identity. I grew up in a home enriched by this cultural blend, which shaped both my personal and professional life.

Three languages coexisted at home: German, Spanish, and English. Although we maintained German traditions, my mother wanted us to integrate into Mexican culture. For this reason, despite her Protestant beliefs, my parents decided we would be raised Catholic to attend private school, which at that time had a strong religious component.

During my childhood, English was the predominant language, although my first language was German. I later learned English and, later still, Spanish, as my parents communicated in English. The presence of my maternal grandmother, who was originally from East Germany and lived with us until her passing, further enriched our family environment.

I am the daughter of my parents’ second marriage. From previous relationships, my father had four children, and my mother had two. I am the only child they had together, the one who united a family made up of “yours, mine, and ours,” resulting in six older siblings and me.

Calling and Academic Path From an early age, I felt a vocation for service, which led me to choose hospitality as my career. When I made that decision, it coincided with the opening of El Squid Roe, and my father suggested I work there before leaving to study in Switzerland, to confirm whether I truly enjoyed the environment. At 18, I worked there for six months and confirmed my passion for the industry, although archaeology also interested me.

A recommendation from a friend, the son of a hotelier, led me to choose Le Roches in Switzerland, where I studied for three years. My love for cooking later took me to Le Cordon Bleu. I then transferred credits to Cornell University, where I earned my bachelor’s degree under the guidance of my mentor, Rupert, with whom I shared a strong cultural affinity.

Connections to Los Cabos and Professional Career My father first visited Los Cabos in the 1960s, thanks to a friend from San José. On his second visit, he was accompanied by my mother, who was pregnant with me. My eldest brother, Pedro, moved to La Paz and married a local woman, further strengthening our family ties to the region.

My father’s passion for sport fishing gave rise to Pisces Yachts, with my nice Karina, and my cousin Adriana participating. Later, my brother Marco and Tracy his wife, took over management of the fleet in 1984, when Fonatur began developing the area. My parents built their home and moved to Los Cabos in 1986, when there was not even a golf course.

Los Cabos was still a little-known destination, which we simply called “Baja.” I spent many vacations, Christmases, and holidays there, witnessing firsthand the birth and evolution of the destination.

Work Experience and Entrepreneurship After completing my studies, I returned to Los Cabos to complete my professional internship at the One&Only Palmilla hotel. I later partnered in a Mexican restaurant in Cabo San Lucas, managing it for several years. After that, I worked as a fleet administrator alongside my sister-in-law, Tracy, for three to four years.

When I became pregnant, I moved to San José del Cabo, adapting to a new stage of family life with children. My parents owned Necri, a store founded by my mother in 1988 in Cabo San Lucas. Following the birth of my son Cristian and my father’s illness, I took over the management of Necri for several years. The store closed after Hurricane Lidia.

Involvement in the Historic Center Association I became actively involved in the Historic Center Association of San José del Cabo, particularly during the first remodeling phase. One day, when we were unable to access our businesses, we organized and approached the municipal authorities. Garibaldo Romero (RIP) suggested forming an association to gain greater influence with the municipality. This worked well during three years of government, with the participation of merchants such as Gabriel Corral and Nathalie Buchler.

Later, the idea emerged to place an advertisement in Visit Los Cabos magazine, and Amauri Santiago suggested formally establishing the association to share advertising efforts. Jacobo Turquie, owner of La Panga restaurant, along with Enrique Silva and Fernando Hernández of Tequila restaurant, had already formalized the association and worked together for years. Enrique Silva served as president, and I as vice president.

We later joined the Art District, which had its own association. From there, we began organizing events, and when I closed the Cabo San Lucas store, I became fully involved in the Art District.

Challenges and Achievements in the Historic Center I fondly remember many people who are still in San José and have contributed so much to the destination. The first remodeling forced us to close for 7 months, followed by challenges from street vendors and tent encampments in the center, adding 2 years of social difficulties. Our goal was to attract tourists, so we organized events such as casino nights to raise funds and keep activity alive.

We visited all the concierges to inform them that the Historic Center operated throughout the week, not just on Thursdays, and we sought to attract both hotel guests and local residents—something that was not easy to do.

We promoted the history of San José del Cabo, including reports for Spanish journalists, and explained the importance of the mission and the Estero, a historical and natural pillar of the town. We shared the story of the mission’s three locations and recalled paddleboat rides on the Estero, surrounded by abundant flora and fauna.

Current Evolution and Outlook Today, Thursdays are firmly established, and the gastronomic level of the Historic Center is outstanding. We succeeded in attracting tourists to the Art District, and the area continues to maintain a strong real estate presence. I remember when Hotel Casa Natalia was built—it seemed risky at the time because it was not beachfront, yet today it is an icon of San José del Cabo.

The destination remains attractive for investment, with many people arriving in search of opportunities. We are a small island, which has worked in our favor, and we maintain the high standards and prices that characterize us. The development of Bicentenario Street has been well executed, but it is essential to preserve the Historic Center’s identity and historic style.