BajaNomad

Baja 7-07 Part 5: San Ignacio, Santa Rosalia, Mulege, El Requeson

David K - 8-2-2007 at 08:38 PM

This is the continued trip report, from Part 4 at http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=26032

After miles of desert, the peninsula traveler is rewarding with what surely is one of Baja's special surprises...



[Edited on 8-3-2007 by David K]

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David K - 8-2-2007 at 08:42 PM

The short side road into San Ignacio should always be taken!

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David K - 8-2-2007 at 08:46 PM

The mission is the center of town and by far the prominent landmark here!

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David K - 8-2-2007 at 08:50 PM

The mission was established in 1728 by the Jesuits and the stone church was compoleted by the Dominicans in 1786, as the Jesuits were expelled from the New World in 1768.

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David K - 8-2-2007 at 08:52 PM

Quite a structure made with walls four feet thick that were cut from the nearby lava beds.

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David K - 8-2-2007 at 08:55 PM

Gold leaf alter

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David K - 8-2-2007 at 08:57 PM

This statue we named Saint Harry Potter...

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David K - 8-2-2007 at 08:58 PM

In the town plaza was some big event with a band stage.... the date festival perhaps?

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David K - 8-2-2007 at 09:01 PM

In one of the old mission rooms is the new museum of the famous Sierra de San Francisco canyon rock paintings (San Pablo Canyon and others), with these nice recreations...

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David K - 8-2-2007 at 09:03 PM

Look guys, we went to San Francisco de la Sierra........... NOT!!:lol::lol::lol:

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David K - 8-2-2007 at 09:06 PM

While we were inside the museum, the sky opened up and poured on San Ignacio! The tropical cloudburst lasted only a few minutes but really dumped a lot of water... great!

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David K - 8-2-2007 at 09:15 PM

The highway to Santa Rosalia passes near the base of Baja's huge Tres Virgenes volcano complex... Baja's most recent active volcano with the last eruption witnessed by the missionaries.

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David K - 8-2-2007 at 09:18 PM

At the top of the first grade, this vehicle rolled... not long before we arrived. Didn't see any injuries... lucky people, I hope!

Never take your eyes off the road when driving the narrow Baja highway (or any highway)!

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David K - 8-2-2007 at 09:19 PM

Finally, we cross over to the gulf coast... and warm water!

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David K - 8-2-2007 at 09:22 PM

Santa Rosalia... founded by the French Boleo mining company who ran the copper mines in the area until 1954.

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David K - 8-2-2007 at 09:26 PM

The town church was designed by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 World's Fair in Paris and shipped to Baja in pieces...

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David K - 8-2-2007 at 09:27 PM

Inside the Iglesia de Santa Barbara (Eiffel's church)...

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David K - 8-2-2007 at 09:30 PM

Many of the buildings in Santa Rosalia date from the French period... Very unique.

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David K - 8-2-2007 at 09:33 PM

The next oasis we come to in Baja, on Hwy. 1 is Mulege!

We take a drive through town and go along the north bank of the river to the gulf shore where we find a terific, casual restaurant... El Patron.

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David K - 8-2-2007 at 09:45 PM

Baja Angel rejoices in the Sea of Cortez!

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David K - 8-2-2007 at 09:47 PM

The food at El Patron was just awesome... I had the breaded fish (triggerfish) plate... and we shared a guacamole and chips.

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David K - 8-2-2007 at 09:52 PM

Elizabeth ordered the garlic shrimp... Both plates were great!

We had the great two dinners, guacamole & chips and 4 Pacificos for only 305 pesos!!!

El Patron ROCKS!

While we still had daylight we headed to Bahia Concepcion to set up camp and have some more of that 'Baja feeling'!

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David K - 8-2-2007 at 09:54 PM

Along the Mulege river road we noticed this high water observation chair!

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David K - 8-2-2007 at 09:55 PM

Our home for the next two nights.... El Requeson!

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David K - 8-2-2007 at 09:57 PM

You can't get much closer to the water than this!

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David K - 8-2-2007 at 09:58 PM

Beyond our palapa is the sand spit that connects to Isla Requeson at low tide...

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David K - 8-2-2007 at 10:00 PM

Baja sunset, Thursday, July 26, 2007

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David K - 8-2-2007 at 10:01 PM

Nice stuff...

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David K - 8-2-2007 at 10:06 PM

Yes, this was quite a day...

Breakfast at Shari's in Bahia Asuncion...

Lunch at Campo Rene, near Abreojos, San Ignacio and Santa Rosalia tours, Mulege river drive and an awesome dinner right on the beach at El Patron... and a most perfect camp with warm water all night to swim in whenever we wanted!

Viva Baja!!!

Stay tuned for Part 6... Bahia Concepcion

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Cypress - 8-3-2007 at 04:51 AM

David K. Enjoyed the pictures. Thanks.:D

Bob and Susan - 8-3-2007 at 05:26 AM

"In the town plaza was some big event with a band stage.... the date festival perhaps?"

"While we were inside the museum, the sky opened up and poured on San Ignacio! The tropical cloudburst lasted only a few minutes but really dumped a lot of water... great!"

That was San Ignacio Days...Big town FIESTA...
It almost EMPTIED Santa Rosalia:yes:
EVERYONE here LOVES a fiesta!!!:spingrin:

The "cloudburst" was so bad they had to cancel the first day of the event.

The fiesta ended several days later on sunday night...
some people didn't make it to work monday:lol:

Bajaboy - 8-3-2007 at 08:08 AM

Hey DK-

Thanks for sharing the trip report. I've been enjoying. I still need to get mine out. We explored some pretty cool areas and might have an entry for toughest Baja road (hint: it's in the mountains near Loreto).

Glad you were able to take some time and explore.

Zac

Baja&Back - 8-3-2007 at 08:43 AM

David: Welcome to Baja Sur! :bounce:

David K - 8-3-2007 at 08:44 AM

Thanks Zac...

By the way, we were the next guests after you guys to sign Shari's guest book at the beach house!

David K - 8-3-2007 at 08:45 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Baja&Back
David: Welcome to Baja Sur! :bounce:


Yup, it was Baja Angel's first trip to Sur... and I was last there in 2001! Just so much Baja and so little time!

Bajaboy - 8-3-2007 at 08:54 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Thanks Zac...

By the way, we were the next guests after you guys to sign Shari's guest book at the beach house!


If I would have known you were headed down, I would have left some Pacificos.

David K - 8-3-2007 at 09:02 AM

Thanks amigo!!

Minnow - 8-3-2007 at 10:35 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Baja&Back
David: Welcome to Baja Sur! :bounce:


Once every ten years if he wants to or not.:lol::lol:

Hey David, how was the weather in conception>?

I thought Bob and Susan were the only ones brave enough to be there in the height of summer.:o

Bajafun777 - 8-3-2007 at 11:05 AM

David, good photos and restful settings. Nothing like a cold one by the water and just enjoying what nature has made for us. Take care----bajafun777

Bob and Susan - 8-3-2007 at 07:52 PM

minnow...he was a 1000 feet away and didn't stop

he EVEN drove by the "road of shells" and the sign your wife re-spelled for us:lol:

post the picture

jerry - 8-3-2007 at 10:20 PM

thanks DK great pics and report

Great pix (as usual)

thebajarunner - 8-4-2007 at 03:15 PM

Our gang was down that road in April, brings back very good memories.

But, we went to the "real San Francisco caves'
not a staged foto op from the museo...

nice comprehensive report!!

Bob H - 8-5-2007 at 04:22 PM

Your images are fantasic. Audrey and I also loved dining at El Patron about three years ago. We will go back there in October! Can't wait after seeing your photos. Also, happy hour at Jungla Jims! :bounce:
Bob H

David K - 8-5-2007 at 09:24 PM

Thanks folks...

Part 6 coming soon...

Bob & Susan, it was late in the day (dinner time) when we were taking a quick look at Narranjas. Saw Mexray's photos of it over the years and wanted to see where his and Pat's place was. Maybe next time!

David K - 8-6-2007 at 09:34 PM

Part 6 (El Requeson, Bahia Concepcion) is now posted at: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=26128

Great stuff, as always, David...

Mexray - 8-7-2007 at 09:43 PM

...we stopped by El Patron one weekday afternoon for a cool drink. We decided the Shrimp c-cktail's were just too good looking to pass up!

A few local 'patrons' wandered in, two with guitars, and before long we had a Mulege 'Jam' session in progress...everyone singing and having a great time. Even though Patricia and I were the only 'Nortes' among the 15 or so there, we were welcomed into the 'fray' without hesitation. We traded several cool drinks with our new 'friends' and spent a wonderful couple of hours there!

Here's one of those Naranjos pictures you were talking about...that's Patricia floating in the Bahia right in the 'back yard' of our palapa.

Just about every evening, we sit out on the porch and watch the mountains over there to the East, on the peninsula change colors as the sun sets behind us...it's a view we just never get tired of! I've even been 'inspired' to drag out my paints and dabble a bit as I watch the sunlight have it's way with those mountains.

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David K - 8-8-2007 at 08:35 AM

Hi Ray... We drove past all the palapas/ homes trying to find yours... But no 'Baja Time' stickers or other indicator was seen. It was late, and we just took a quick drive by before returning to Requeson.

David...

Mexray - 8-8-2007 at 07:27 PM

...Ours is the palapa with the las palmas roof ;)

Actually, we have a plaque with our names on it, right next to the entry door - but you can't really see it during a 'drive by'. We're palapa #8, from the south, Punta Arena end, and there is an old Pace Arrow Moho next to it.

Too bad you didn't have time to check out all the progress over at Bob & Susan's, just to the north of us on the other side of Armando's new 'Marina' project. We can't wait to get down there and sneak over in the middle of the night to go skinny dipping in their new pool...:o

From your Pic's it looks like the weather was bearable in 'Sur'...we can't wait to get back to the Bahia! Thanks for the pic's!

Click on pic to enlarge:



[Edited on 8-9-2007 by Mexray]

David K - 8-8-2007 at 09:25 PM

Thanks Ray... NEXT TIME!;)