Bajaboy - 2-13-2006 at 08:51 PM
My wife, mother, and I decided to stay in Santa Rosalia after a long drive from Playa San Rafael. Our original destination was Muluge or Loreto but
decided to be a bit adventurous as we had never over-nighted in Santa Rosalia.
We stayed at Hotel Morro based on a recent Nomad report. The hotel grounds and location are incredible. The hotel is about 2-3 miles south of town
on the cliffs above the Cortez. Our rooms were ocean view and cost about $45. According to the women, though, the rooms were not very clean or
up-to-date. We did notice construction on a few rooms...who knows maybe renovations are under way. I decided that I'd had enough driving and we
secured a taxi into town ($4-5 each way).
We walked around town admiring all the holiday lights and Christmas decorations. It was great to see the spirit and excitement. We stopped by the
gym and watched some teens playing volleyball and basketball. I forgot the name of the restaurant we ate at but it had great pizza and even better
service. It was located directly west of the gym and has a large outdoor patio.
The next morning, I decided to go for a run. I headed towards town and, as always, enjoyed seeing the town wake up. The roads were still quiet with
little traffic but the taco stands were alive with people. I waved to a few other locals who were jogging as well.
One thing that surprised me was a number of teens walking the streets picking up garbage. Just the night before, I was commenting on how much cleaner
Santa Rosalia seemed. I figured my memory was bad but now I had reason to believe it true....the town was cleaner.
So, I'm curious, for those who have travelled through Santa Rosalia a few times, does the town seem cleaner, especially just before the turn into the
central part of town?
Zac
[Edited on 2-14-2006 by Bajaboy]
[Edited on 2-14-2006 by Bajaboy]
Bruce R Leech - 2-13-2006 at 09:17 PM
yes they have cleaned up quit a bit. I like the hotel Las Casitas just before the El Morro nicer view modern rooms and better price.
Bruce R Leech - 2-13-2006 at 09:20 PM
hotel Las Casitas
http://www.bajaquest.com/santarosalia/baja06c.htm
Bajaboy - 2-13-2006 at 09:45 PM
Bruce-I noticed that place as I was running. The place looks new and nice.
zac
Areo Airplane View...
Juan del Rio - 2-13-2006 at 09:56 PM
...have not stayed here, but sure looks like a great place to stay from a 350' "Baja Flyover" in November '05.
Still "Money" in them' hills!!!
Juan del Rio - 2-13-2006 at 10:14 PM
If you are driving from San Ignacio to Santa Rosalia (after the, 'HILL of DEATHhhh) and once you go pass the Propane Dealer, the next big "thing'
you'll see is a guard gate on your left. I thought they were doing a new "Condo"/Baja Development with all the dust in the foreground you'll see from
early morning to early afternoon. believe it or not, they are still mining resources (Yep, cheap!) from the area. They have been doing this since the
late 1800's! There is gold in them hills! (...but they want to keep it a secret, They didn't know about BajaNomads.com and how we want to know!!!)
Well, here you go...this is not a secret. Tons of money to be made here in the Baja dirt!
Ok...I know you want more...
Juan del Rio - 2-13-2006 at 10:23 PM
...betcha you didn't know about the airstrip! The mining people ( does anyone know where they are from??? I think Canada, but I'm not sure) pay to
keep it open. I think they should pay for all the "Rural" airstrips to stay open in Baja with the amount of money they are making from this operation
alone in Santa Rosalia!
Juan...
Mexray - 2-13-2006 at 10:36 PM
Nice pictures...that is a great view of El Moro, have stayed there, and didn't realize there were so many palm trees on the grounds.
That 'mine' picture looks kinda' like an aggregate plant, with those several piles of 'graded' rocks and gravel. Most mineral mines I've seen, dig,
crush, and haul away the raw ore without the 'grading' process that can be seen in your picture...You're right, we wouldn't know that operation was
there without your perspective!
Thanks...
bajalou - 2-14-2006 at 08:33 AM
Read recently that they are looking to upgrade the mine and processing in the next 2-3 years. Many minerals/metals can be recovered with newer
technology/equipment.
A little more about Santa Rosalia
zforbes - 2-14-2006 at 09:13 AM
I want to chip in with my impressions of Santa Rosalia when I was there with Zac and Tracy in December. It was the Saturday evening before Christmas
eve, and the streets were filled with people of all ages purchasing their gifts and preparing in other ways for the festivities that would follow. A
tiny beauty salon was filled with middle aged ladies sitting in chairs against the walls with their hair in rollers and chatting, awaiting their turns
at being brushed out and sprayed. The historic and celebrated church was filled inside with worshipers singing and dancing, and the doors were wide
open, so it was easy to see and hear without intruding. Other evening strollers watched with us. The restaurant where we ate, El Muelle, had an open
air patio on the corner, so we sat and rested and watched in the dusk with the Christmas lights twinkling around us. My green salad was filled with
fresh vegetables, and the bloody mary hit the spot. In addition to the usual salsa that preceded the meal, there was a tasty creamy tuna dip that we
all liked. We made quite a few passes through the streets of town before we finally asked for directions to a taxi stand, and I used the opportunity
to look in every store window in town. I really enjoyed myself that evening!
Oso - 2-14-2006 at 07:28 PM
Thank you all for giving me cause to reconsider Sta. Rosalia. I've always passed thru, barely recovering the circulation in my knuckles from that
hairy downgrade, angered by the ripoff Pemex and offput by the "industrial" outward appearance. I've never even taken the time to explore the
"Eiffel" architecture or relax and try to get a true feel for the town.
I used to have a similar attitude about Guerrero Negro. Just a dusty, ugly main drag after a hassle with a BS Malathion spray, veggie confiscation
and migra. But, last(oops, I mean the one before last) B1k I spent 2 days there patching up the truck after the buena chinga I gave it on the course
between Laguna San ignacio and El Datil. While there I discovered the bird sanctuary, osprey nests and simple nice people, "colonists' from other
regions of Mexico- there to pursue a living in the "salt mines" with no particular interest in gouging tourists.
I guess it's a "don't judge a book by its cover thing". There are really no bad parts of Baja, if you take the time to discover the good in them.
[Edited on 2-15-2006 by Oso]
Several years ago...
Mexray - 2-14-2006 at 08:35 PM
...we were on our way back to Northern California, and having left Bahia Concepci?n late in the day, decided to stay o'nite in Sta. Rosalia.
Unfortunately, for us, the town was booked solid with a high school, state-wide sports event (don't remember the actual event). There were visiting
teens in their colorful Jerseys all over town! The main plaza was jammed with people.
We tried several places to stay, but everything was of course full. A friendly fellow told us about a small motel, way up the the hill on a side
street, that might have a room. We found the place, it had about 8-10 rooms, and the proprietor was a jovial, friendly sort, in his 'cups' for the
evening, as it were! He indeed did have a room or two available, and we grabbed one for the hefty tariff of 100NP ! We only had a 200NP bill, and he
didn't have any change, but promised to get in by morning.
We were traveling in our old 73' VW bus, so I backed it up in front of our room and unloaded our stuff...well, 'room' was a bit of a generous
description, as it was a closet, crammed wall-to-wall with a couple of twin beds, and a smaller closet for a bath! Well at least it was a place to
get some sleep before the long trip north - WRONG...around 10:00 PM, teens that had rented the neighboring rooms began to arrive...PARTY, PARTY, into
the wee hours of the morning - nothing really rowdy, but lots of loud voices, giggling, tunes, singing, etc - good clean fun - except it was right
outside our 'closet'...
The next morning, as we packed to leave, I made sure they got to hear the VW as I warmed it up before hitting the road! It was our small contribution
to the celebration! After bothering the proprietor for our 'change' (as I remember, we only got half), we were on our way...
Another fun adventure in Baja! New and exciting experiences are around every corner...one just has to take the time to seek them out!
lucywoodson - 11-16-2009 at 01:03 AM
Very nice discussion here. I love it. I'm going to keep an eye on this. Very nice thread.
regards,
lucy
Simulation pret
ahem...
Sharksbaja - 11-16-2009 at 01:12 AM
Lucy sweetie, look at the date of the post you like.
Barry A. - 11-16-2009 at 09:26 AM
Never actually "stayed" there, but Santa Rosalia is one of the most interesting (to me) towns in Baja, and I have spent many mid-days there just
prowling around and eating at the resturants and watering holes. Wonderful friendly people, and lots to see if you take the time to look.
I am a mining history nut, so that partially explains my interest, but even the girls loved this place for it's "excitement in the air" feel, and good
food.
I admit that it has been a few years since I have been there, but just thought I would throw my 2 cents in.
Barry
bajabass - 11-16-2009 at 11:11 AM
My wife and I stayed at the El Morro after getting trapped in Santa Rosalia. Just after John and Miriam ruined Mulege. Maybe 3 weeks after, I think
Oct. 06. After touring both sides of the river road, and a night at the Serinidad, we went to San Bruno. The little hotel there was booked, only 4
rooms. Ended up at the El Morro. That night another storm came through and blew out the vados just north and south of the hotel. Great view, but my
wife found a scorpion and several black widows under the bed. 2 days later, we loaded up on bread from the bakery in Santa Rosalia. Great bread. Good
food. Nice people. I had an alergic reaction to some fish, and broke out in the worst case of hives I have ever seen. Huge, terribly itchy blotches. 3
am and I am gonna die. My wife is a doctor, and determined I needed Benadryl. Head to the 24 hr market= nada. A little gay male nurse told my wife of
a clinic up on a hill in the southern area of town where he worked. The doctor was there, 1 shot and a couple pills for later, I was cured. The
doctor, extending professional courtesy, would take no money! A lifesaver. Funny, but not, my name is Jon, and my wifes is Myriam. That trip sealed
the deal between my wife and I. We were married less than a year later.