White Angel - 12-28-2005 at 01:03 PM
It's closing in on my annual trek which will take us back to Gonzaga and Alfonsina's. I tried a search on the Nomad using "Alfonsina's" and must
have done something wrong because I know the phone #'s were out there in early '05. Can anyone help with current info? Is Antonio and/or Irma still
there? Any chance of catching Juaqin near a FAX machine? My experience is that most of this is irrelevant anyway. If Antonio recognizes you; then a
room or two opens up. If not; the piece of paper you are waving might help; but is no guarantee. Thanks in advance for any valid phone contacts.
PS-It's cold and raw in Boston today. Cloudy with a chilled wind off the North Atlantic. Heavy rain; but a "warm" 42 degrees predicted for tomorrow.
Any wonder I'm dreaming of Baja?
meme - 12-28-2005 at 02:32 PM
This is the latest phone number I have.
011-52-66-648-1951
fax 636-26-26
Right about Antonio he will first tell you he has no rooms. Then HE will decide if he wants to change his mind! If they ever get another motel down
there they are sure gonna have to change his policy! Last I knew couple months ago he was still there but did not see Irma last couple times we were
there?
Alfonsina's
bonanza bucko - 12-28-2005 at 08:19 PM
Text
We have had a house at Alfonsina's for 30 years. We usually fly down there but drive once in a while. The road has been bad washboard as usual....no
change. Just go slowly if you drive and enjoy the scenery and take a coupla spares. If you fly, check the tide tables; Alfy's runway is under water
at high tide as you probably know.
re Antonia y Erma. Erma is gone but Antonio is there. re the reservations....you are correct. The FAX is not gonna do you much good. Just go and
convince Antonio that you need to be there.
The food in the cantina is as good as always even with Erma gone. The Pescado Empanizado is better than a $150 plate of fish in the best San
Francisco (or Boston) restaurant.
I pitty you being in Boston. I went to the Harvard Business School and it's good that the WX there is so bad because it made me stay in and study.
But the coldest place on earth is on The Charles when the wet wind is blowing off the North Atlantic.
Baja is better. Have a good trip.
Email me at wings@san.rr.com if you want more input.
larry - 12-28-2005 at 08:35 PM
I camped at Campo Beluga and ate two meals at Alfonsinas last week. I would agree that the fish was spectacular (had pescado ranchero y pescado
empanizado).
I drove up from Bahia de los Angeles in my wife's Dodge Grand Caravan---it was the lowest clearance vehicle anywhere in the area. We continued on to
San Felipe and just barely made it between Gonzaga and SF.
Corky1 - 12-28-2005 at 09:19 PM
Here's what I have for Alfonsinas!!
Message: 011-52-664-648-1951
Fax: 011-52-664-626-2626
Good luck. Corky
White Angel - 12-29-2005 at 02:26 PM
Once again; Thanks to the Nomads for your responce. I'll try the FAX first. Just so you can all feel even better about where you are; the New Year's
Eve forecast is calling for rain changing over to freezing rain then to snow. Amateur night with ice on the roads is always thrilling! Talk of
building collapse hazards in Northern Maine and reminders to fuel the generators since power could be out up there for days! Ain't winter grand!
Thanks again.
The number actually works!
roverdude - 3-29-2006 at 11:26 AM
Miraculously just reserved 3 rooms at Alfonsinas for during the families Spring Break. Used the number and someone actually answered and made a
reservation. Wow, this is a very good thing. No hassles with Tony when we arrive.
eetdrt88 - 3-29-2006 at 11:49 AM
never made a reservation,never had hassle getting a room but i've only stayed there a few times and maybe was during low tourist times...much prefer
to camp down the way anyways but love to eat and have a drink at Alphonsinas...that view is just...alright gotta get back to work
White Angel - 3-29-2006 at 02:26 PM
Hey Roverdude-Be sure to report back in once you've been to Gonzaga. If they run true to form; when you get there no one will know what you are
talking about. Be sure to bring "papers" that confirm the reservation. It usually works out okay, but they seem to love pretending they've no room at
the inn and no idea about any reservations. We gave up on it this year and are sticking with the Pacific side with a few days at Melings. Maybe things
have changed at Alfonsina's-let us know.
roverdude - 3-29-2006 at 05:29 PM
White Angel,
Yeah, I know the drill. No rooms. Eat and drink at the restaraunt until they know you're not a Yahoo. Then rooms magically appear. I wrote down all
the specifics that Juaqin gave me including what time we spoke. I'll report back and let you know if anything changes. Fortunately, my best friends
wife is a Mexican. We'll see if this any positive bearing. We wanted to stay at Meling but cannot get ahold of anyone to make a reservation. Usually
David Lang or Armando gets back to us in a few days. Any suggestions?
White Angel - 3-31-2006 at 09:18 AM
Roverdude-Sorry I can't help with Meling's info. The guy who made contact with their "agent" has gone quiet on me. No reply to e-mail for a few days.
I know he had no luck sith Meling's "next day" e-mail and so I think he called the phone # in San Diego. It's on their website. Wish I had first hand
info; but that's the best I can do. On my way to Baja tomorrow!
David K - 3-31-2006 at 09:29 AM
Here is the Meling Ranch web site with contact information...
http://www.melingguestranch.com/index.php
It was included in an email I received yesterday from a memeber of the Meling/ Johnson family... I think it is safe for me to share this with you...
hopefully he will join Baja Nomad and interact with the rest of us directly:
David K
I see that you added a posting on the Baja Nomad BB, on 03/28/06, regarding the
Meling Ranch or Rancho San Jose.
My name in Chuck McCullough, I’m a member of the extended family that owns the
ranch. I am a great-grandson to Harry and Ella Johnson and a grandson on Laura
Johnson McCullough.
First I’d like to apologize for my families public squabbles, we have a long
history of arguing over what's best for the ranch. Unfortunately sometime these
decisions spill over into the public arena.
Secondly I’d like to give you some current information on the ranch and it’s
owners. Rancho San Jose or the old ranch, as some of us are now calling it, is
currently owned my David Lang and his wife Sandra Meling Lang. You can contact
them via the ranch web site: http://www.melingguestranch.com/index.php David and
Sandra are doing a fine job of operating the ranch and have numerous projects in
the works to improve it. Andrea Meling, Sandra’s sister, is managing the
guest ranch.
Duane is still living on the old ranch. She has a small place Northwest of the
main ranch about 3 miles.
Also Jovita, Esteban, and Alfredo Meling are still the owners and operators of
Rancho el Coyote.
Now the last item, you made reference to the book 'Where the Old West Never
Died' and posted a picture of the dust cover. The book was published in 1968 and
never printed again, as far as I know. It’s been out of print far too long.
The family has recently acquired ownership of the Copyright and we plan to
republish the book in the near future. I don’t know what the price will be but
it will be available at both guest ranches or from me.
I see you’re a frequent poster on BB’s relating to Baja. If you ever have
need of information on the ranch send me an e-mail. We currently do not have a
telephone or the Internet at the ranch. I’ll do whatever I can to gather
current information or correct any problems that a guest of the ranch may have
had.
Thank you for your time.
--
Chuck McCullough
White Angel - 4-11-2006 at 12:50 PM
Hey All; Just back in New England after another grand vacation in Baja. I'm wondering how "roverdude" made out with his reservations at Alfonsina's?
Things went great for us at Meling's-they were expecting us and had prepared the rooms we'd rquested. Last Thursday we were the only people there!!
Was stunned to find the road paved all the way in! Took some of the fun out of the trip. Good road all the way to the Observatory. We drove out to La
Bocana and Punta Santa Tomas to also find ourselves very alone. Gained access to rooms for the night; but no towels, no food except what we could buy
at the tienda at La Bocana (canned corn beef and saltines). Glad I brought my woolies; flannel and long sleeves all along the Pacific. Does the wind
ever stop blowing at San Q? Don Eddies looked closed up as well. All of this in stark contrast to the high rise boom around Rosarito.
WARNING Alfonsinas at all time low!
roverdude - 4-14-2006 at 10:57 AM
OK, back with a report. The lead truck made it into Alfonsinas on Monday about 10 minutes ahead of the group arriving at about 3:30pm. With the
Spanish speaking wife of my best friend, Ari, they informed her there were no rooms and had no idea what we were talking about. I showed up with my
VERY detailed print out of the conversation with Jauqin. They claim he never passed on the info, even though he had just been there. We were besides
ourselves. Our wives would have never allowed us to leave Rancho Meling if we didn't have confirmed reservations because of the problems in the past.
Well, they eventually showed us the group of 4 rooms with a private patio on the southern edge of the property. Doors don't close, broken windows,
shared bathroom. One room, the size of a large closet, had NO windows. We didn't have a choice and took it at a discount. I guess since we made a
stink, some of the staff (not all) decided to offer bad service with dirty looks. BTW, make sure you document what you order and the price on the menu
as there is always a descrepency. This may well be the last time we stay there. Cannot wait until Beluga has there hotel up!
meme - 4-15-2006 at 08:08 AM
Is Beluga building a motel? Had not heard of it yet?