BajaNomad

sad to report Rudolfo of Mulege

capt. mike - 3-6-2007 at 04:33 PM

the old man with the cane but still his wits has passed away this week. :(bummer - but we gotta go sometime i guess, that guy had a long run!:saint:

Lindalou - 3-6-2007 at 04:48 PM

So sad to hear that:(. Pompanos sister is holding a drawing of him for me when I can send her an address. (we're still on the road) We saw him everyday when we were in Mulege. How old was he, do you know? Thank you for letting us know.

Cardon - 3-6-2007 at 04:53 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by capt. mike
the old man with the cane but still his wits has passed away this week. :(bummer - but we gotta go sometime i guess, that guy had a long run!:saint:


He was still trucking when I took this picture of him two weeks ago.

The passing of an icon

Sharksbaja - 3-6-2007 at 05:04 PM

I think of him regularly and he was such an amazing man. What a life he must have had. He'll be missed by many.
Here is one about two years ago. Vaya con dios.

rudolpho_c.jpg - 40kB

Minnow - 3-6-2007 at 05:07 PM

He had a good run.:lol:

Papa Fernandez, and now this.

My wife hase a great story concerning him! I originally posted a pic of him back on the old Amigos.

Long story short, he never lost his eye for the ladies.:rolleyes:

Bob and Susan - 3-7-2007 at 07:11 AM

this is truly sad...
this is the end of another era...

our condolences to the family...

bob and susan

Bajagypsy - 3-7-2007 at 12:55 PM

That is truly sad to here. How old exactly was he?

Bob H - 3-7-2007 at 01:01 PM

Very sad news indeed. He was probably the most photographed person in Baja over the last several years. Visiting Mulege next time around just won't be the same without his daily sightings.
Rest in Peace Rudolfo!
Bob H

About 2-years ago...

The town square is not the same without him.

Pompano - 3-7-2007 at 05:20 PM

I first met him when I asked him if I could take his photo in 1974. Then we went into the old Hacienda cantina for a drink.. (the original one with all the famous and not-so-famous autographs on the walls.)

I took a couple hundred photos of him over the next 3 decades. He was photographed by all who saw his colorful amble around the town. He never asked for anything, and gave his friendship freely. A buck's worth of pesos was always accepted and appreciated though.

He played a mean guitar and was quite the lady-killer. We teamed up more than a few times way back when...I would bring the senoritas into the Hacienda atrium cantina and he would fire up his guitar and sing softly...making the gals sit 'real close' to hear. He was a fine rascal of the first caliber.

He wore out many pairs of shoes and hats, plus I once gave him a cloth shopping bag from Trader Joes, but he seemed to prefer the plastic ones.

Gonna miss him a lot...like I said, the square will not be the same without him....but his family is still there, Victor, Paty, and all.

Play well and ride hard, amigo.

Here follows a collection of his photos:

- 1980.jpg - 40kB

1982

Pompano - 3-7-2007 at 05:24 PM

A bad pencil sketch...due to too many cuba libres.

- 1982.jpg - 32kB

many years later...1994

Pompano - 3-7-2007 at 05:27 PM

anyone remember the old pizza shop? Donna Moe's?

- 1994.jpg - 37kB

1999

Pompano - 3-7-2007 at 05:29 PM

Keeping an eye on the traffic...and his feet.

- 1999.jpg - 49kB

watercolor

Pompano - 3-7-2007 at 05:33 PM



- 2003.jpg - 45kB

Dec 2006

Pompano - 3-7-2007 at 05:36 PM



- 2006.jpg - 46kB

Adios, my friend.

Pompano - 3-7-2007 at 05:38 PM



- 1 aaaaaa.jpg - 50kB

Lindalou - 3-8-2007 at 01:55 AM

Thank you Pompano, how beautiful.

Crusoe - 3-8-2007 at 02:29 AM

Thank you Pompano for giving us something to really remember him by. I first saw him at the old Hacienda in 1970 and many times after. He always had that classic look about him. He said he remembered everyone.We would always hope to see him around the square.Rest in Peace Rudolfo!!

Bob H - 3-9-2007 at 01:01 PM

Pompano, that was just great! Thanks for sharing your many photos. Your 1999 photo of Rudolfo is taken at the same location my photo was taken in about 2004. You have him walking past the green door, mine shows him approaching the same green door. He must of had certain routes he would walk each day.
Great photos!
Bob H

tripledigitken - 3-9-2007 at 02:48 PM

Pompano,

Thanks for the pictorial history. I had only seen him once. Ever since I have wanted to photo him..........alas no such luck.

Ken

sometimes his route would take him up this way...

Pompano - 3-9-2007 at 05:06 PM

He covered the ground...daily.

[Edited on 3-10-2007 by Pompano]

- 1 an old amigo (Custom).jpg - 40kB

Pompano

Baja Bernie - 3-9-2007 at 05:50 PM

A while back you posted these pictures without saying much but I read that you had a lot invested in your friendship with this man..........I am sure that he repaided you many times over. It is terribly hard to let go of a man such as this.....I know.

May he rest in peace.

Bob H - 3-9-2007 at 09:50 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Baja Bernie
A while back you posted these pictures without saying much but I read that you had a lot invested in your friendship with this man..........I am sure that he repaided you many times over. It is terribly hard to let go of a man such as this.....I know.

May he rest in peace.


Bernie, what a great thing to say!

Pompano, I'm sure that you have more interesting stories about Rudolfo. Your photos and captions say a lot though. If you have any more stories about this man it would be great to hear one or two. My wife and I ALWAYS saw him each and every time we visited Mulege, usually near El Candil (when we would be enjoying a couple of margies) where he would walk by hanging on to the window frames, counting each one as he walked by. Sometimes people would chat with him a bit before he continued on.
Bob H

Via con Dios

motoged - 3-10-2007 at 11:09 AM

Nomads,
I was in Mulege in January '95 and stayed at the Casa de Hespuedes while on a motorcycle journey for a month throughout the Baja.

One evening I attended a Pig Roast dinner at the Hacienda when the restaurant was managed by a French Canadian from British Columbia.

While many of the folks attending seemed to be a group of American cave painting aficionados, the highlight of the evening was an elderly blind gentleman who played guitar and sang....both with evidence of his years but with a spirit that brings a tear to my eye.

I videotaped his performance at our tableside and have it somewhere...

Over the years and my returns to Mulege, I recognized El Cantor as who has been identified as Rudolpho....

He has a place in my heart as well as with those who have enjoyed him personally and those who have from a distance.

With respect, admiration, and condolences to those close to him,

Ged

Sharksbaja - 3-11-2007 at 02:27 PM

:saint:Thanks Roger, very nice indeed.:saint: