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bajaking76
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Posts: 143
Registered: 1-12-2011
Location: San Diego, CA
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Mood: If Baja calls, I am home.
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I met Genero on my last trip to san borja in 2009, very interesting guy, he is in his 20s. I have a picture will post it today..
\"That\'s my thing, that\'s what I do\"
\"Gene Police: You!! Out Of The Pool!\"
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Mexitron
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3397
Registered: 9-21-2003
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
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Mood: Happy!
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| Quote: | Originally posted by djh
Was the Mission San Borja ever used as a movie set ??
I seem to remember a western film - maybe a Sergio Leone or Brian De Palma (Music by Ennio Morricone - my favorite) that had an old mission set that
looks sooooo much like the Mission San Borja. (Not "The Mission" film, I realize, but . . . a much earlier production. . .)
Perhaps it was a spaghetti western (IT.), but the photos above sure resonate a stored movie image for me....
I'll bet one of you know for sure !
Thx.
djh |
Many of the spaghetti westerns were filmed in mainland Mexico and some of the architecture there is similar to the mission style...but I never saw a
western that had Baja as a backdrop.
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BAJACAT
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2902
Registered: 11-21-2005
Location: NATIONAL CITY, CA
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muy interesante endee..My #1 Baja Mission is San Javier and #2 mission San Borja de adac
BAJA IS WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE, FUN,DANGEROUS,INCREDIBLE, REMOTE, EXOTIC..JUST GO AND HAVE FUN.....
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bajaking76
Nomad
Posts: 143
Registered: 1-12-2011
Location: San Diego, CA
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Mood: If Baja calls, I am home.
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*Update*
From what I can gather from Max Miller’s book and from my mom, Fidel V was an engineer by trade and worked in some of the local mines. My mom found
information that states he was also very wealthy, owning several parcels of land and ranch homes. He also took part in WWII in some way and studied in
the US for a small period before leaving the US for San Borja. That would explain why Max took a liking to him, he was only one of two people in that
area other than his companions that understood and spoke English.
An interesting twist, one the descendent of Zilverio and Monica Romero (my mom’s godparents) married into the Perez Aguilar family and moved to Bahia
Tortuga. I only know he is called Uncle Romero, AND he also happens to be the brother-in law of my late Uncle Carlos Villavicencio, his sister lives
in El Barril. That is not the twist, as it turns out, the wife of this Uncle Romero is the Aunt of my wife’s mother….I’ll be in Tortuga to find more
info…holy crap this is getting good, David!!
Bajaking
\"That\'s my thing, that\'s what I do\"
\"Gene Police: You!! Out Of The Pool!\"
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bajafam
Senior Nomad
Posts: 654
Registered: 9-6-2009
Location: Northeast AZ, Bahia Asuncion, BCS :)
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Mood: DLTBGYD
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must. see. more. missions!! Thank you guys for putting this in the forefront! I can't wait til the kids are a bit bigger so that we can really
experience all of these magical places! We've yet to go to San Borja...someday soon, I hope!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64486
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajaking76
*Update*
From what I can gather from Max Miller’s book and from my mom, Fidel V was an engineer by trade and worked in some of the local mines. My mom found
information that states he was also very wealthy, owning several parcels of land and ranch homes. He also took part in WWII in some way and studied in
the US for a small period before leaving the US for San Borja. That would explain why Max took a liking to him, he was only one of two people in that
area other than his companions that understood and spoke English.
An interesting twist, one the descendent of Zilverio and Monica Romero (my mom’s godparents) married into the Perez Aguilar family and moved to Bahia
Tortuga. I only know he is called Uncle Romero, AND he also happens to be the brother-in law of my late Uncle Carlos Villavicencio, his sister lives
in El Barril. That is not the twist, as it turns out, the wife of this Uncle Romero is the Aunt of my wife’s mother….I’ll be in Tortuga to find more
info…holy crap this is getting good, David!!
Bajaking |
Yes, way way cool!
Baja Bucko studies the families of central Baja as well...
I am re-reading Max Miller's book as well... As of 1941 he had been both rich and poor... and was poor that year, living in the mission's side
buiding. I just got to page 20...
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TMW
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Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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I think all the missions are fascinating in their own way. The adobe ruins mostly gone with their ghosts in the wind and the solid rock walls of the
many missions still standing. Some years ago there was a fund set up to help keep the missions in some standing of good order. It appears to have gone
away.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64486
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajafam
must. see. more. missions!! Thank you guys for putting this in the forefront! I can't wait til the kids are a bit bigger so that we can really
experience all of these magical places! We've yet to go to San Borja...someday soon, I hope! |
San Borja is a beautiful place... and the drive there is through awesome boojum forests...
It is just over 20 miles from pavement on both roads... Going south, I recommend using the Bahia de los Angeles highway route... Take the 7 mile
sidetrip to Montevideo painted cliffs... You can drive right to them. That sideroad is just 2 miles south of the L.A. Bay highway off the San Borja
road and is now signed.
Leaving San Borja (if you are going on to Asuncion or south) you take the road west to Rosarito on Hwy. 1. It is rougher than the north road, but
still doable in 2WD.
2007 AAA Map:
1989 AAA Map:
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Paula
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Posts: 2219
Registered: 1-5-2006
Location: Loreto
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This is such a nice thread. I love the pictures and history!
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DianaT
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Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
Leaving San Borja (if you are going on to Asuncion or south) you take the road west to Rosarito on Hwy. 1. It is rougher than the north road, but
still doable in 2WD.
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Before anyone takes those roads in low clearance 2WD vehicles, please check for current conditions.
In February, 2010 we were VERY glad we had high clearance vehicles---4WD we did not use, but the high clearance was needed.
One place on the south road and it was deeper than it looks
And this one is from the north road---it does not show as well as it was taken of my son's truck from a distance, but the holes in the road were very
deep and needed high clearance as one could not miss all of them.
With a 2wd low clearance, it is especially important that you check for current conditons.
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Von
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Posts: 961
Registered: 10-1-2006
Location: Poway-Rosarito
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Mood: getting ready!
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Lots of awesome information 
READY SET.....................
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64486
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Quite simply, 2WD low clearance vehicles need to stay on pavement. If you want a Baja experience... then get a Baja vehicle!
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bajaking76
Nomad
Posts: 143
Registered: 1-12-2011
Location: San Diego, CA
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Mood: If Baja calls, I am home.
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Looks like the trip to Bahia Tortuga will be in late august, I plan on stopping by San Borja on the way home. I will visiting Asuncion for sure!
\"That\'s my thing, that\'s what I do\"
\"Gene Police: You!! Out Of The Pool!\"
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64486
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Nice thread to bring up again...
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KurtG
Super Nomad
Posts: 1201
Registered: 1-27-2004
Location: California Central Coast
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Mood: Press On Regardless!!
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I have a well used copy of "Land Where Time Stands Still" which I just pulled off the shelf last week to reread. I like travel books that provide a
snapshot of times past as this one does.
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4x4abc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4165
Registered: 4-24-2009
Location: La Paz, BCS
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Mood: happy - always
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Quote: Originally posted by bajaking76  | With encouragement from DK....
"San Borja Baja California Norte"
Some of the families that live on the mission grounds circa 1930�s
� Zilverio and Monica Romero.
o Children: Guadalupe Romero (My Sisters godmother).
� Teodoro and Amelia Romero (Amelia McCliff) (My mother�s godparents).
Vaillavicencio Family Circa 1940�s
� Fidel and Trinidad Villavicencio (Trinidad Rajiola)
� Carlos Villavicencio Rajiola (Fidel and Trinidad�s son) Married Gregoria Medina Poblano.
o Children from Carlos and Gregoria: Ana (My Mom), Magdalena, Leonor, Francisca, Chencha, Trinidad, Carlos, Marcos and Juan Villavicenvio.
My mom lived in San Borja from 1939 to 1949. The Villavicencio�s original lived in a ranch in the San Miguel Mountain Range where my Great Grandpa
Fidel and Grandpa Carlos built from adobe and rock. The ruins of that site are still visible (getting intel on location). You can see a picture of my
Great Grandfather Fidel in the BOLA History Museum, standing at the front door of Mission San Bora circa 1940�s. (Thanks to DK, you can also find
Fidel in 'Land Where Time Stands Still' by Max Miller c 1943)
An interesting note, according to my mom, Fidel was well acquainted with an American he called �El Gringon� (assuming now that this was Max
Miller) because of his height. The American would fly by and drop of food and supplies for the people of the village. On one in perticular he dropped
a Book (green cover) to be delivered to Fidel and written by �El Gringon�. The book according to my mom was written in English and contained many
things related to the Baja at that time. This must have been in the mid 40�s as my mom was a young girl at the time.
History, such a wonderful thing�I am still looking, will keep you updated.
BajaKing |
where is Sierra San Miguel (San Miguel Mountain Range)?
Harald Pietschmann
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3779
Registered: 2-9-2004
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Re: that photo of the "orchestra" at San Borja: about 20 years ago (wow how time flies) I was at the mission and camped. I was told that the next
weekend there was going to be a celebration of a saint's feast day - the patron saint of farmers or something like that - and that thousands of people
were coming from far and wide to celebrate for 4 days! It was said that trucks with pallets of beer stacked 10 high were coming, and that the truck
drivers would sleep on top of the pallets overnight. I'm sure plenty of music as well. Would love to have seen all that.
Genaro also told me about how they get schooling. A teacher comes and stays on the grounds for about 3 months and teaches them, along with a few
other nearby children. Then the teacher leaves and goes to another outlying locale for classes.
In later years both Genaro and his brother were skilled craftsmen working on restoration of the mission.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64486
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Great story Cindy!
The San Borja Festival is in October and José hates it due to all the alcohol and crazy-drunks. José and family are not Catholic or drink alcohol so
they welcome the return to normal!
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Barry A.
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Posts: 10007
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Location: Redding, Northern CA
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| Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc | | Quote: Originally posted by bajaking76 | With encouragement from DK....
"San Borja Baja California Norte"
Some of the families that live on the mission grounds circa 1930�s
� Zilverio and Monica Romero.
o Children: Guadalupe Romero (My Sisters godmother).
� Teodoro and Amelia Romero (Amelia McCliff) (My mother�s godparents).
Vaillavicencio Family Circa 1940�s
� Fidel and Trinidad Villavicencio (Trinidad Rajiola)
� Carlos Villavicencio Rajiola (Fidel and Trinidad�s son) Married Gregoria Medina Poblano.
o Children from Carlos and Gregoria: Ana (My Mom), Magdalena, Leonor, Francisca, Chencha, Trinidad, Carlos, Marcos and Juan Villavicenvio.
My mom lived in San Borja from 1939 to 1949. The Villavicencio�s original lived in a ranch in the San Miguel Mountain Range where my Great Grandpa
Fidel and Grandpa Carlos built from adobe and rock. The ruins of that site are still visible (getting intel on location). You can see a picture of my
Great Grandfather Fidel in the BOLA History Museum, standing at the front door of Mission San Bora circa 1940�s. (Thanks to DK, you can also find
Fidel in 'Land Where Time Stands Still' by Max Miller c 1943)
An interesting note, according to my mom, Fidel was well acquainted with an American he called �El Gringon� (assuming now that this was Max
Miller) because of his height. The American would fly by and drop of food and supplies for the people of the village. On one in perticular he dropped
a Book (green cover) to be delivered to Fidel and written by �El Gringon�. The book according to my mom was written in English and contained many
things related to the Baja at that time. This must have been in the mid 40�s as my mom was a young girl at the time.
History, such a wonderful thing�I am still looking, will keep you updated.
BajaKing |
where is Sierra San Miguel (San Miguel Mountain Range)? |
San Miguel Mountain (Sierra San Miguel) is SE of Ensenada, N of Valle de Trinidad and Highway 3, near Canon el Alamito according to Google.
Specifically Google says:
"Sierra San Miguel is a mountain in Baja California and has an elevation of 1173 meters. Sierra San Miguel is situated west of El Alamito, northwest
of Cañón El Alamito."
I cannot find it specifically on the Baja Atlas map on page 11, but I can find the big canon of "Alamito".
Your welcome. (-:
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64486
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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I think there was maybe more than one sierra named (or called) San Miguel?
The one on today's maps are the foothills east of San QuintÃn (as Barry A describes).
On a 1919 map:
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