BajaNomad - Roadside memorials

Roadside memorials

Boshvideo - 8-20-2007 at 04:59 PM

Driving many miles on Mexico 1 in the last few weeks I was struck with the amount of roadside memorials. I was thinking about all the stories that could be told about why thery were there.
Does anyone know of books or documentaries on this subject?

DENNIS - 8-20-2007 at 05:11 PM

I once wrote a story called, "A Cross On The Side Of The Road." If I could find it, I would make it available. It wasn't meant for publication and that's good because it turned into a ramble. Fifty some pages. I enjoyed writing it so I threw out size restrictions. As most know, fifty pages of anything fit nowhere.
That's not what I wanted to say. What I wanted to point out was the prolifiration of roadside crosses in the US. I've even seen them on I-5.
Gee. I wonder why.

[Edited on 8-21-2007 by DENNIS]

danaeb - 8-20-2007 at 05:36 PM

Bosh - where's the trip report? You're gone for two weeks and all you bring us is a picture of a fish taco?

Ken Bondy - 8-20-2007 at 05:37 PM

Does anybody know Hector's story? It's certainly one of the most creative and ambitious of all the Baja memorials:

loretta - 8-20-2007 at 05:42 PM

no kidding..........got a be a great story to go with that one

Boshvideo - 8-20-2007 at 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by danaeb
Bosh - where's the trip report? You're gone for two weeks and all you bring us is a picture of a fish taco?

I promise to get my trip report posted by weeks end. Thanks for not letting me get lazy.
I'm really interested in any information on these memorials.

DianaT - 8-20-2007 at 05:53 PM

I recently read about a graduate student who was doing a thesis on these memorials, but I believe it was in Arizonia.

It would be quite a project for someone, but it would be interesting to know the story behind each one. One thing we have noticed, both when we lived in Calexico and when we traveled Baja, that offen a memorial is put up for a gringo who dies on the highway, but often it is not kept up---a cultural difference to be sure.

Recently we noticed the cross with an American flag where the motorcycle rider was killed between Jesus Maria and Guerrero Negro----we wonder how long it will be kept up.

Diane

Boshvideo - 8-20-2007 at 05:58 PM

I agree, it would be most interesting to know the stories behind each one but a near impossible task. I would consider doing a video documentaty but I feel it would lack any depth without the insightful stories.

Dead Mexicans

MrBillM - 8-20-2007 at 05:58 PM

About twenty years back, during a discussion of Mexico and Baja with a management employee at GTE, he made the (serious) comment that he had visited Mexico ONCE and was amazed that the people just buried their dead right next to the roadway.

It was difficult not to laugh, but discretion dictated not correcting him.

bajamigo - 8-20-2007 at 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jdtrotter

Recently we noticed the cross with an American flag where the motorcycle rider was killed between Jesus Maria and Guerrero Negro----we wonder how long it will be kept up.

There's a memorial in Punta Banda, along the Z road, commemorating the death of a young American man two years ago. It is sporadically maintained, I believe by the guy's friends.

The story is as ironic as it is tragic. Three young men were renting a house on the sand spit and decided to have a bash in Ensenada. They drove into the local village, Cantu, to call a taxi to ferry them around. As they returned to their house to await the taxi, the car went off the road into a lagoon, where the poor guy drowned in about three feet of water. He was 26 years old.

[Edited on 8-21-2007 by bajamigo]

loretta - 8-20-2007 at 06:16 PM

Descansos ("resting places")

Just some links of interest on the subject..............

http://photo.net/photodb/presentation?presentation_id=97863

http://jsr.fsu.edu/Volume7/McNearney.htm

Very common in Native American culture as well............ Montana, Washington, Idaho and Wyoming and most of the midwest this is common to see

Boshvideo - 8-20-2007 at 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by loretta
Descansos ("resting places")

Just some links of interest on the subject..............

http://photo.net/photodb/presentation?presentation_id=97863

http://jsr.fsu.edu/Volume7/McNearney.htm

Very common in Native American culture as well............ Montana, Washington, Idaho and Wyoming and most of the midwest this is common to see

Interesting.... many thanks. This would be a perfect project to take on. Just as long as there is a space to pull over and a chance at shooting some video with out getting nailed by a bus.

David K - 8-20-2007 at 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken Bondy
Does anybody know Hector's story? It's certainly one of the most creative and ambitious of all the Baja memorials:

Baja Angel and I stopped for a close up look at Hector's monument on our way to L.A. Bay to visit with Mike and Mary Ann

http://vivabaja.com/1005/

Here's one of the three pictures on that web page...

[Edited on 8-21-2007 by David K]

docsmom - 8-20-2007 at 06:54 PM

I've seen lots of them in BCN, and an equal amount in So. Nevada. The northernmost I've seen was in Seattle. Each time they remind me to be grateful to be in the present moment, and to be with a loved one.................

Loretta Thanks for sharing

Keri - 8-20-2007 at 07:32 PM

Very interesting. I have a friend that takes photos of the shrines. She may put them in a book. I sent the links to her also. k

[Edited on 8-21-2007 by Keri]

woody with a view - 8-20-2007 at 07:49 PM

Quote:

Just as long as there is a space to pull over and a chance at shooting some video with out getting nailed by a bus.

sheesh, it is mexico afterall! living on the edge....... :lol:

toneart - 8-20-2007 at 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken Bondy
Does anybody know Hector's story? It's certainly one of the most creative and ambitious of all the Baja memorials:

Hector was a truck driver. Hector bought the farm. Hector was loved.

That's all I got but I'm sure there is more.........

Zgringo - 8-20-2007 at 09:43 PM

Here's what I can tell you what I know about them. A friend of mine (Mexican) was killed in a auto accident and his family come up to San Felipe and built a memorial at the site he died at. They believe the soul hangs around till the body is buried and they want them to know they are loved. Then there's 10 days from the time of death the family and friends gather at church and do the rosery for a hour or so. The family mourns the death for 30 days and the wife for a year. After that there name is never said again as it might bring back the spirit. The thing after that is on the Day of the Dead some family members will place flowers on the grave.
In my travels threw out Mexico it seems they all die in car accidents. Lots of crosses.

CaboRon - 8-21-2007 at 06:45 AM

Very ineresting custom. Loretta the links were facinating.

- CaboRon

Alan - 8-21-2007 at 07:06 AM

I worked many years on the I-15 in the Mojave Desert as a firefighter. It didn't take long to realize that if people would plant a tree instead of a cross the Mojave would be a rain forest in short order. 75% of all the fatalities were caused by ejections simply because people wouldn't use seatbelts. (Caltrans doesn't allow the memorials).

Even if you don't care about yourself think about the person that has to come clean up the mess and buckle up!

[Edited on 8-21-2007 by Alan]

loretta - 8-21-2007 at 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by CaboRon
Very ineresting custom. Loretta the links were facinating.

- CaboRon

Thanks Cabo Ron

With all respect to the spirits represented........... don't want to make light of anyone's tragedy. Here is a smile for you:
I remember one long Montana drive, those of you who have done that know how much vast open space that means, I came across one cross after another for miles upon miles. Then after hundred miles of single ones (the whole time pondering the demise of each individual) I saw , all of a sudden, a concentrated placement of 30 or more crosses........... and having a morbid sense of humor............ well, I chuckled and figured .............Must have been a bus full :?:

When driving miles and miles with only antelope sightings and crosses....... the endorphins from laughter keeps one awake.

DENNIS - 8-21-2007 at 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by loretta
I came across one cross after another for miles upon miles. Then after hundred miles of single ones (the whole time pondering the demise of each individual) I saw , all of a sudden, a concentrated placement of 30 or more crosses...........

Sounds as though you came across a Christo art installation. Remember when he planted giant umbrellas across the hills in California and Japan?

rhintransit - 8-21-2007 at 07:55 AM

there's a great little shrine on Fig Tree Beach which is well tended and has been there for as long as the local gringos (El Juncalito) can remember. it would have been quite the airborne flight from Hwy One, if it marks an accident but the drop off is steep there, so it is possible. one thing about it intrigues me, and I know there must be a good story there...at the base (of a cave type niche filled with plastic flowers, rosaries, beads, etc)...is a partially opened suitcase with billowing white tulle flowing out. a dress, impossible to say if for a wedding or a quinciano. anyone know the story? a group of women walked from the little chapel in El J out to the area last Easter time, could it be religious rather than highway death related?

loretta - 8-21-2007 at 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

Sounds as though you came across a Christo art installation. Remember when he planted giant umbrellas across the hills in California and Japan?

Yep! early 90's........... broke the monotony of the drive along the grapevine.......... also kind of cool as it was one of those parallel universe deals.....

Ken Bondy - 8-21-2007 at 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by toneart

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken Bondy
Does anybody know Hector's story? It's certainly one of the most creative and ambitious of all the Baja memorials:

Hector was a truck driver. Hector bought the farm. Hector was loved.

That's all I got but I'm sure there is more.........

I got that too. I was just wondering if anybody knew "...the rest of the story..." Last time I saw Hector's shrine there was a bullet hole through the front window of the truck model, driver's side. So maybe everyone didn't love Hector