BAJA-ROSARIO CULTURAL FESTIVAL JULY 20-22, 2007

Antonio ('BajaCactus') has posted the latest details on this years event, see below...

Here are some images from the past two El Rosario festivals:

2006:
Jaripeo action


Art show


Nomads get together


Good food (right bajaandy?)


Miss El Rosario Contest


Classic Car & Truck Parade



2005:
Nomad 4WD Tour


Boojums and Beer (eh, Santiago?)


Local Industry Expo (and samples for The squarecircle)


El Rosario restaurants rock, Bob H gives the thumbs up!


Baja Nomads at Baja Cactus Motel


Petrified Forest tour




Two mission sites were established in El Rosario
Arriba:


Abajo:


See La Lobera... the sea lion crater!




Meet local artist, Hugo Lopez at Tacos Mision




The beach of La Bocana, just 5 miles from town...


Hope to see you all there!!!



[Edited on 6-25-2007 by David K]

BajaRosario Festival 2007!!!

Hi friends,

As many of you may already know, this year I am not in charge of the coordination for the BajaRosario Festival 2007...

You see, in 2004, I came up with the idea to celebrate the foundation of El Rosario, I was amaze that even though it was a very old town, with more than 2 centuries of history, no one recalled a celebration of it's "Birthday"... I could not even find a written testimony... so I talked about it with some friends in town and the response I got was: "It is impossible... not even thinkable... quite difficult".

After several weeks and meetings, and after I explained that it only required some good effort and commitment, they decided to try and make an attempt for the first one. I did not say anything, but I was hoping it became a tradition for the town.

The first Festival was in 2005, and we named it "BajaRosario Festival 2005". Since the committee helping me had no experience and were kind of nervous, I had to take complete control on the coordination of the activities... Many of our BajaNomad friends came to the first event and we had a blast.

Last year (2006), my committee wanted to do it once again and I helped them... let us say I was 50/50 involved with it... they did a good job.

This year, the people of town are now expecting the Festival... it has become some sort of the major event of the year for them... and my committee is eager have it done once more... as I had hoped, it is becoming a tradition... however this year my committee is "flying solo"... I will still help them, but now they are making all the calls... why?... well.. I am in charge of another project.

Let me explain... since the beginning, the Festival was never thought as a "money maker" event... but more as a Cultural and Historical event... even though, I knew we may end up with some profit and we promised the people of town that, if this turned out to be the case, we would use the money to build something nice for the town.

After the first Festival we ended up with almost $2,400 US Dlls... and we decided to use it to build a nice entrance for the town, at the north point.

The third festival is coming and so far nothing has been done to even begin with this idea, so last february I told my committee that we have to do as we promised, and therefore we split the work... they are taking full control of the Festival and I will work on the "Entrance Project".

So far, we have around $3,800 Dlls available for this project, of course we will not do much with this money, but at least we can start...

I therefore went to see our dear friend... a professional arquitect and artist Kim Williams, a very nice lady that has become a local in El Rosario... she is the owner of the "Fossil Store" at the south end of town... she immediately became excited with the idea and after several meetings where I explained our ideas, she began to work on it.

Two weeks ago, I went to her place and she gave me the final design for our project... you will not believe what she came up with... she put more than a 100 hours of work into this idea and a beautiful, amazing and spectacular design came out!!!

My initial plan was to have something done by the time of this year Festival, so we could have the inauguration there, however I am out of time to do this, so, instead, my Plan B is coming into action:

We will have the inauguration where the entrance project is intended to be constructed, I will have a small billboard build with a drawing of the project and we will unveiled it then, this way everyone will have a chance to enjoy it and maybe local people will be motivated to help have this done.

I would very much like for this to become a "structure" of the people of town, something they feel related to, something that gives them pride... we even designed a sidewalk all the way to the curve where we plan to place small squares with the names of the town's families... kind like in Hollywood...jejeje.

For the Festival this year, I believe my committee is planning the usual events: "Jaripeos", night dances with live music, a small fair, tours to the local Mission Ruins, access to the "Petrified Forest" and "La Lobera", the "Senorita Rosario 2007" beauty pageant, etc, plus they are trying to have new kind of events...for example, I heard something about a very mexican tradition: "Pelea de Gallos" (Rooster fights). I may not fully agree with it, but it is their Festival now... let them have fun with it.

So far, at the BajaCactus Motel, we already have some reservations... around 15 BajaNomads (including family members and friends) are attending the event.

I have high hopes for the event this year... and more than everything, this year is going to be "100% local made"... jejeje... let us see what they come up with.

And of course, as in the last couple of years, BajaCactus is having a very special BajaNomad gathering and meal for everyone attending.

So, pack your things and come join us... July 20th, 21st and 22nd... we will have a blast!!!



Antonio M.
BajaCactus
"Where the Baja is so much more than a dream..."

[Edited on 6-25-2007 by BajaCactus]

well glad to hear they support the town.....you know how flakey developers can be!!!

my good friends at Monarch Grand Vacations are putting the finishing touches on their new flagship property at los cabos now, Casas Azul.
its spectacular, i'll be enjoying a stay in one of the condo suites for the 1000 this november. i'd never go there except it is the 1000 and i am getting a "suite" deal

JUST TWO WEEKS TO GO!!!!

The THIRD annual BAJA-ROSARIO CULTURAL FESTIVAL begins Friday, July 20... see above posts for more details...





Last year's tee shirt/ logo

[Edited on 7-6-2007 by David K]

LAS PINTAS DETAILS

To make an educated pick for a tour from El Rosario, here are some details and photos from the web page http://vivabaja.com/pintas

DIRECTIONS
Highway 1, southward from El Rosario 14.6 miles (between Km. 80-81), turn right at the left curve. GPS: 30°01.59', 115°32.05' (Map datum set to 'NAD27 Mexico')

Go 17.4 miles on the good graded dirt road to a single track road going left. If passed, just ahead is a ranch house on the right and there is a second left road that joins the first. Set odometer to '0.0'. GPS: 29°49.64', 115°28.42'.

Pass ranch houses ('Malvar') and make an 'S' turn right, into Arroyo San Fernando. You soon will be reach a (possibly) closed gate at Mile 3.5. Always re-close any gate after you pass through.

Mile 5.2, (GPS: 29°52.53', 115°25.22') turn LEFT off of Arroyo San Fernando road, and follow a small side arroyo. Brush may scratch your vehicle in here.

Mile 5.4, (GPS: 29°52.69', 115°25.26') turn RIGHT, out of small arroyo and cross low divide to small valley.

Mile 7.2 LAS PINTAS parking area. GPS: 29°53.90', 115°24.48', elev. 755'. You are 24.6 miles from Highway 1 and 39.2 miles from El Rosario's Baja Cactus Motel and Pemex gas station, per my odometer.

Trail to the right of the boulders is the best way to the top, then cross over to other side and try the more difficult trail to get back down. Straight into the boulders from the parking area are tunnels, passages, and boulder shelters. ENJOY!

Fossils in boulders...




(can you say 'rock lobster'?

Caves and crawlways...





Petroglyphs... (all over)









Even a waterfall!!


(Baja Adventure Book photo)


(My son, in April 2006, same place)

Hi Shari, Baja Angel & I are going to go where the wind and mood takes us... The goal is a totally relaxed week after the festival with no firm schedule... You know, do things on 'Mexican time'!

One plan we may follow is to see the Seven Sisters coast after the festival and then head out your way or take a visit to San Ignacio, Mulege, Bahia Concepcion... which Elizabeth has yet to see.

So, maybe we will see you!? The idea of abalone does weigh heavy on the decision... is it still in season??

We are bringing our camping equipment, so no worries about a room....

I have read or heard that Gadget and squarecircle might do the Sisters coast as well, after Roasrio 2007.

Quote:

Originally posted by David K Hi Shari, Baja Angel & I are going to go where the wind and mood takes us... The goal is a totally relaxed week after the festival with no firm schedule... You know, do things on 'Mexican time'! One plan we may follow is to see the Seven Sisters coast after the festival and then head out your way or take a visit to San Ignacio, Mulege, Bahia Concepcion... which Elizabeth has yet to see. So, maybe we will see you!? The idea of abalone does weigh heavy on the decision... is it still in season?? We are bringing our camping equipment, so no worries about a room.... I have read or heard that Gadget and squarecircle might do the Sisters coast as well, after Roasrio 2007.

We will be ready to head out Thursday AM and should be to ER mid afternoon. We have a Geo Cache to find on the 05' 1000 course out of Uraupan. Our friday plan is the coast from Punta Baja to San Carlos and back to town with some surfing along the way hopefully. Sat and Sun doing whatever and heading out sometime Sunday for San Quintin to meet up with friends for a couple days on the beach there and home by Tuesday PM Wed AM. 7 Sisters has to be during winter swell season for me my friends.
See you all in ER. We're really looking forward to it.

And PS David, you can officially consider this a request from Leslie to lead a tour to somewhere cool, the petroglyphs in these photos look like a good pick again.

[Edited on 7-18-2007 by Gadget]

Inauguration time changed...!!!

Hey Look !!!!

It's Sebastian Vizcaino.

http://vivabaja.com/705/mailedD39.jpg


[Edited on 7-18-2007 by Hook]

Where did Vizcaino get a GPS?

See you guys there in 2 days!

OKAY NOMADS... You guys will have a week free of my postings (unless the Internet finds me in Baja)!

I know that will make a few of you really happy

The rest of you not going to El Rosario or elsewhere in Baja, can look forward to photos and details of our journey beginning sometime after the 29th!

I am not sure what Baja Angel and I will feel like doing for the week... But, there are good odds that we will go to places neither of us have been to in Baja!!!

As I have said often, there is much more Baja I have NOT seen than have seen! Just so much Baja and so little time!

So, you guys have a great week... Hope to meet some of you in Baja... Keep posting trip reports and photos from past and present...

Peace, love and fish tacos HERE WE GO!!!

[Edited on 7-20-2007 by David K]