BajaNomad

Baja 4-06 (Part 1): Mama Espinoza Museum

David K - 4-10-2006 at 09:28 AM

Weekend Baja Get-a-way and El Rosario has so much to offer, that's where we went for some fun and adventure!

The trip south was really quick and easy on Friday (4-7-06), crossing about 11 am (Tijuana)...

A stop at Rosarito for Tacos El Yaqui for a couple of 'Perrones' (con todo)... YUMMIE!!

Only two military checks (Santo Tomas north grade & El Rosario mesa) and neither inspecting southbound traffic (but did heading north). The El Rosario checkpoint now has two lanes, off the pavement for inspections.

New street widening (to 4 lanes) going through Colonia Vicente Guerrero.

Looks like a possible gas station/ market at the Cielito Linda/ La Pinta hotel jcn. (Km. 11) going up.

Beautiful weather all weekend!

Friday afternoon we arrived at Baja Cactus about 3:30 (4 hours driving time from Tijuana!) and when Antonio was done attending to business at the gas station we went to the new Taco place 'Tacos el Poblado' (#5 on my map) and it was great... Carne asada tacos with all the toppings.

I noticed the building behind El Poblado was the Mama Espinoza museum and Antonio asked if I would like to see inside (as it is always locked)... It seems an American has been the driving force behind establishing it, providing everything... But, nobody in town has seen the potential of opening it up daily. Well, if you walk across the highway and ask at Mama Espinoza's restaurant, there is a chance someone will open it for you... which we did.

Here are some photos of the museum...

PHOTOS NOW AT http://vivabaja.com/406

[Edited on 12-5-2006 by David K]

museum-2

David K - 4-10-2006 at 09:29 AM


museum-3

David K - 4-10-2006 at 09:34 AM


museum-4

David K - 4-10-2006 at 09:35 AM


museum-5

David K - 4-10-2006 at 09:36 AM


museum-6

David K - 4-10-2006 at 09:37 AM


museum-7

David K - 4-10-2006 at 09:38 AM


museum-8

David K - 4-10-2006 at 09:38 AM


museum-9

David K - 4-10-2006 at 09:39 AM


museum-10

David K - 4-10-2006 at 09:40 AM


museum-11

David K - 4-10-2006 at 09:43 AM


museum-12

David K - 4-10-2006 at 09:44 AM


museum-13

David K - 4-10-2006 at 09:46 AM

Here is the final photo I took at the museum...

Town Map

David K - 4-10-2006 at 09:48 AM

The museum is behind #5, the path down to it is between #3 and #5.

PART 2 continues this trip report at: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=16622

[Edited on 4-12-2006 by David K]

great pics David!

eetdrt88 - 4-10-2006 at 10:33 AM

the museum looks very interesting,gotta check it out...is it open all the time?

The squarecircle - 4-10-2006 at 11:27 AM

Greetings David; >>>>>>> Thank you for that excellent exposure of the Mama Espinosa Museum.. Well done my friend.. >>>>>>> Best Regards, sq.

Pompano - 4-10-2006 at 12:36 PM

Good stuff. Am looking forward to spending some time there. Good work, David...there is always something to do on that great road.

Jack Swords - 4-10-2006 at 01:15 PM

Thanks for posting this info David. Two years ago I spent over an hour chatting with Sra. Espinoza in her home. She told me that much of her collection was lost downstream during one of the major floods. What she had left was there in her home. Glad to see it preserved and displayed. She was, I believe, 92 years old at the time and quite sharp. Even tho she spoke English, she insisted upon Spanish. She has many tales of the old days (rode a buckboard for many days just to get up to Arizona). Before we lose this treasure (like Jimmy Smith), I hope someone will spend some serious time with her recording early Baja history. She is truly a unique person.

BOLABOUND - 4-10-2006 at 03:57 PM

Excellent David!

Feels like I was there. Thanks

I went fishing of the cost of Salinas where that new wanna be harbor is at

its ok: cought a really nice sculpen, eventhough it was redtide.

David,

Mexray - 4-10-2006 at 06:21 PM

Pat & I also stopped at Tacos El Yaqui last Friday...we must have just missed you guys by a couple of hours! Yummy as always!

Baja&Back - 5-13-2006 at 09:22 PM

Hey, David. Isn't photo 13 the buckboard Sra. Espinoza originally came down on with her family from Arizona? The one they used to have in the motel courtyard?

Did she tell you that she was born Italian? Honest - straight from her mouth!!

David K - 5-14-2006 at 12:53 PM

Sorry, I did not speak with Mama... the details you mention are documanted in the biographies written about her, yes.

Her family name is Grosso (Italian), and her brother (Arturo) owned Rancho Laguna Chapala.

DianaT - 5-23-2006 at 04:31 PM

Thank you for sharing the pictures---sure hope on one our trips down there, we get to see it.

Diane

David K - 5-23-2006 at 04:38 PM

If it isn't open, then walk across the highway to Mama Espinoza's and ask if it can be opened up for you... A small donation box is at the doorway.

Catalina - 8-31-2006 at 08:56 AM

Thx for sharing the photos of mama Espinozas museum. I've alway's been curious to see her collection's.:O:D

jimgrms - 8-31-2006 at 01:25 PM

I recall meeting mama in 69 a bunch of milatary folks from san diego , drove down we had raided the mess halls the naval trng cen and the marine base and several others , sure hauled a lot of food down thier mama espinoza was speechless , we worked for a couple of days on the orphanage , and then bach to ship out for nam mama is a great lady and has no equal