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BajaMama
Super Nomad
Posts: 1106
Registered: 10-4-2015
Location: Pleasanton/Punta Chivato
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Mood: Got Baja fever!!
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Onyx Curio Shop
I don't know when it happened but when I stopped at my favorite curio shop a little north of Catavina - carried onyx figurines, great prices - in
early June if was closed and obviously out of business. Sad day, I loved that shop, I always stopped to buy stuff. Oh well...
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64489
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Quote: Originally posted by BajaMama  | | I don't know when it happened but when I stopped at my favorite curio shop a little north of Catavina - carried onyx figurines, great prices - in
early June if was closed and obviously out of business. Sad day, I loved that shop, I always stopped to buy stuff. Oh well...
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That is Rancho Sonora...
Just south of the road to El Mármol (the onyx mine).
They serve food there too.
Did the closure look permanent?
It dates back to 1974 on that spot, when the founder (Santiago, I recall) moved it to the new highway from the old main road (just over the hill).
Rancho Somora was first recorded in guidebooks in 1967.
The ranch just north, Tres Enriques, also moved to the highway after it was built in late 1973 by here. They closed their restaurant a few years ago,
and went back to just ranching, on the old main road.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64489
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Rancho Sonora Km. 149, 18 mi north of Cataviña
Here are photos we took in 2011 at Rancho Sonora:
RV Parking
There is not a separate word for onyx, in Spanish, so the word for marble is used. The mine was El Mármol and is just under 10 miles to the
northeast.
Filled with Baja Nomads shopping!
Tire changing tool on display.
Baja Cat and David K vehicles in front.
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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6323
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
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Mood: TEQUILA!
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Mama Espinoza's restaurant in El rosario has quite a stash of onyx figures that get sold from the store.
(Not that I am trying to promote Mama Espinoza's...that place has gone downhill on food and service).
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64489
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Thanks for that Udo!
There are very few 'tourist' gift shops in central Baja where one can get gifts or souvenirs. A list of any or all south of Ensenada/ north of Mulegé
may be nice?
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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6323
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
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Mood: TEQUILA!
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If one gets started, David, count me in. My share may be about 100 different places, although yours and mine will probably overlap some.
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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BigBearRider
Super Nomad
Posts: 1299
Registered: 4-30-2015
Location: Big Bear, Punta Chivato, and Cabo
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I have somehow managed to miss that shop. Too bad.
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yumawill
Nomad
Posts: 103
Registered: 10-11-2016
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The Curio shops in San Felipe are awash in dust. And they're still quoting in Dollar$ while I'm speaking Spanish. So sad. The tourist trade that was
is no more. Mexico is in denial. It's almost 1970 again. So sad.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64489
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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There are so many Mexican tourists now, compared to the past, it is too bad that they can't make a go of it without greenbacks or loonies. I sure did
see a zillion Canadians on the beaches in Baja Sur this year, however!
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13033
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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my favorite gift shop is in the village of Sta.Rosalillita beside the church...if it is closed ask around and maybe someone can go and open it up.
They have lots of marble stuff and abalone, shell etc....nice jewellery, napkin holders, etc. all locally made.
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BigBearRider
Super Nomad
Posts: 1299
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Location: Big Bear, Punta Chivato, and Cabo
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Mood:
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| Quote: Originally posted by shari | | my favorite gift shop is in the village of Sta.Rosalillita beside the church...if it is closed ask around and maybe someone can go and open it up.
They have lots of marble stuff and abalone, shell etc....nice jewellery, napkin holders, etc. all locally made. |
I've missed that one, too. Hopefully, I'll see it before it closes!
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13165
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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The store at Malarrimo Hotel in Guerrero Negro and the shop in Cataviña hotel both have some different items.
I am very sorry to hear that the onyx store closed - I made a point to buy something ocean related to give the marine biologist student from Punta
Abreojos who is studying in La Paz. It was my personal gift to her.
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BajaMama
Super Nomad
Posts: 1106
Registered: 10-4-2015
Location: Pleasanton/Punta Chivato
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Mood: Got Baja fever!!
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David K, yes it did look permanent - we cracked open the door and it looked vacated for some time.
Thanks for the other curio shop locations. David & Udo I too would love a list of great your curio shop secrets!
I have seen the onyx at MaMa's but they were super spendy compared to the closed store. Also, if you want to line your garden with onyx stones you
can drive out to Marmol and gather up some fabulous onyx rocks (although the mine area is fenced off.) Also some cool structures and a small
graveyard out there.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64489
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: Originally posted by BajaMama | David K, yes it did look permanent - we cracked open the door and it looked vacated for some time.
Thanks for the other curio shop locations. David & Udo I too would love a list of great your curio shop secrets!
I have seen the onyx at MaMa's but they were super spendy compared to the closed store. Also, if you want to line your garden with onyx stones you
can drive out to Marmol and gather up some fabulous onyx rocks (although the mine area is fenced off.) Also some cool structures and a small
graveyard out there. |
Thanks.
The structure, half demolished, sadly, is/ was the World's Only Onyx Schoolhouse.
In 2006:
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In 1952 (photos from Ralph Hancóck's 1953 book, 'Baja California'):
Some of you might like to read the history of El Mármol in my Baja Bound article from a few years ago: https://www.bajabound.com/bajaadventures/bajatravel/the_onyx...
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bajagrouper
Senior Nomad
Posts: 964
Registered: 8-28-2003
Location: Rincon de Guayabitos, Nayarit, Mexico
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Mood: happy and retired
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Shari turned me on to my favorite gift shop a few years ago, the Federal Prison Gift Shop with items made out of Abalone shell, beautiful earnings,
clocks of Baja in Baja shaped maps and my prize was a cartel inmate made belt buckle with inlaid Abalone shell in the shape of a Mack10.....
I hear the whales song
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bajabuddha
Banned
Posts: 4024
Registered: 4-12-2013
Location: Baja New Mexico
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Mood: Always cranky unless medicated
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I don't believe anyone's mentioned the llantera / RV camp / restaurant at San Augustin a mile and a half north of the El Marmol turnoff on the west
side of the highway. They don't display much, but I bought a couple of wonderful onyx gigs from them about 5 years ago; El Jefe that runs the
llantera had an interesting collection. Tomorrow i'll try to photo what I bought and post 'em here. I've stayed there many a night with a wholesome
meal, a quiet respite, and old country charm. Ain't fancy, but fit my bill just peachy keen.
Edit (second thought): some literature states the San Augustin basin was also a Pleistocene lake not too long ago (geologically speaking) and has
fossils of fresh water turtle shells in the area. Used to be wet and verdant at the end of the last ice age, same as Laguna Chapala and several more
in the area. Also a great viewing for El Picacho Del Diablo from the southwest. Kewl beenz I think.
[Edited on 6-25-2017 by bajabuddha]
I don't have a BUCKET LIST, but I do have a F***- IT LIST a mile long!
86 - 45*
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mcnut
Nomad
Posts: 177
Registered: 12-9-2013
Location: Dammeron Valley, UT
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| Quote: Originally posted by bajabuddha | I don't believe anyone's mentioned the llantera / RV camp / restaurant at San Augustin a mile and a half north of the El Marmol turnoff on the west
side of the highway......I've stayed there many a night with a wholesome meal, a quiet respite, and old country charm. Ain't fancy, but fit my bill
just peachy keen.
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I agree wholeheartedly, basic but pleasant and run by a great family. I's a nice hosted dry camp option in a region with few options.
Bruce
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Paco Facullo
Super Nomad
Posts: 1301
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Location: Here now
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Mood: Abiding ..........
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Mr. Bajagrouper or anyone else,
please give the location of the Federal prison that has the gift shop.
that I would love to see and buy something nice.
Thanks
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64489
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: Originally posted by Paco Facullo | Mr. Bajagrouper or anyone else,
please give the location of the Federal prison that has the gift shop.
that I would love to see and buy something nice.
Thanks |
KM. 189 on Hwy. 1, approx 4 miles south of Santa Rosalía... east side of the highway, 1 km. north of Santa Agueda paved road jcn.
Red ARROWHEAD points to it...
[Edited on 6-25-2017 by David K]
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Paco Facullo
Super Nomad
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Thanks David,
Should have figured that you would know exactly where it's at.
( with pictures ) what ? No GPS coordinates? Just kiddin
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