I finished reading 'God and Mr. Gomez' a while back and was wondering what ever happened to that situation? Did it turn out that Mr. Gomez was
building a mansion for himself after all?
I'm thinking of going out there and poking around on a camping trip, it is a pretty area. Does anyone on this board know if it is a good--or, perhaps
more importantly, a bad-- idea to be asking questions about those houses?
I'd appreciate your commentsBajaGringo - 7-19-2010 at 04:22 PM
I drove out there and checked it out. The house that Jack Smith had Romulo Gomez build him is still there, although a bit unkept at the time I saw it.
Somebody told me a guy in the Ensenada / Punta Banda area now owns the house. Gomez passed away a few years before Jack did and I believe that his son
now runs the little store there.
If Romulo built a mansion anywhere, I didn't see it but there are several nice looking places...longlegsinlapaz - 7-19-2010 at 04:25 PM
Bajatripper, there is some semi-current information here:
It seems pretty friendly to me. There are even photos of Mr. Gomez.Dave - 7-19-2010 at 04:51 PM
I read "God and Mr Gomez" years ago after a friend suggested it.
Don't understand how anyone could enjoy this apologetic crap.
And how anyone could forge a friendship with someone who screwed them at every turn is beyond belief.DENNIS - 7-19-2010 at 04:54 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Dave
Don't understand how anyone could enjoy this apologetic crap.
And how anyone could forge a friendship with someone who screwed them at every turn is beyond belief.
It was a different time. The government was nowhere to be seen and a mans handshake meant something.
It all went to hell.BajaGringo - 7-19-2010 at 05:29 PM
Actually if you read Jack's later columns and especially the one he wrote after Romulo passed away, you come away with a different sense of their
relationship. I think that much of what happened between them was typical of the communications between locals who speak broken English and Gringos
who speak a little Spanish, where all nod their heads in agreement and shake hands over what is very different in the mind of each party.
In the column Jack wrote reporting of Romulo's passing he touched on the misconception that many had come away with the idea that Romulo was a
dishonest person. I have a copy of that column somewhere and will post it if I can find it...Eli - 7-19-2010 at 06:00 PM
The communications issues mentioned above by BajaGringo opened the door to an amazing adventure for me that lasted 15 years and has created the
opportunity of my retirement to my art.
Communication, creativity and integrity was all I had going for me when I began VOS en Construccions in 1990. The company is now run by my Architect
Daughter and her Engineer husband and a few of the original Masons who began with me continue to build some very beautiful dreams for a select few
folks in the East Cape.
Amazing, if anyone at told me the direction I was taking 6 months before I began Contracting, I would have told them that They were a very poor judge
of character.grace59 - 7-19-2010 at 06:55 PM
I found this link on the internet years ago after reading the book. There is a photo of the house along with GPS Coordinates to help you find it. Hope
it helps. I plan on visiting La Bocana myself someday.edm1 - 7-19-2010 at 08:37 PM
Steve, Maya (my daughter) and I passed by that house as we left Puerto Sto Tomas before Memorial Day weekend (the weekend of our epic Mision Sta Maria
trip when we first met you). It's a small house, not a mansion, and not something that looks special. It must be the story behind it that makes it so
special.Mexitron - 7-19-2010 at 08:42 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Dave
I read "God and Mr Gomez" years ago after a friend suggested it.
Don't understand how anyone could enjoy this apologetic crap.
And how anyone could forge a friendship with someone who screwed them at every turn is beyond belief.
For what he paid for the house I doubt he was "screwed" and I'm sure if he had paid twice as much Jack would still not have of regretted doing
so...it was a happy place for him and his wife.gnukid - 7-19-2010 at 09:45 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Dave
I read "God and Mr Gomez" years ago after a friend suggested it.
Don't understand how anyone could enjoy this apologetic crap.
And how anyone could forge a friendship with someone who screwed them at every turn is beyond belief.
I think you misread Mr Gomez, Dave. This was some time back and he did the best he could and did complete the job and did ensure water service etc...
there is nothing to note that he misled anyone or failed to deliver and for those of us who arrived after the book does illustrate some important
things to understand about building a house in a region without adequate supplies, water power or clear communication.
I think one thing to understand is the foreigners tend to project a great deal upon people they meet, and therefore the nodding responses are left to
great misinterpretation, though I do not recall anything significant wrong, except that the water pressure wasn't great at times, the fridge not so
cold, the water reversed hot and cold etc... normal. Title is not conveyed easily in some regions though a lease may be the best, until such time.BajaBruno - 7-19-2010 at 10:42 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by edm1
a small house, not a mansion, and not something that looks special. It must be the story behind it that makes it so special.
This probably sounds awfully Buddhist, but whether a shelter is a mansion or a shack is purely a function of the contentment of the inhabitant. It
has nothing to do with the structure itself.cjesme - 7-20-2010 at 07:33 PM
I thought the book was GREAT!BajaWarrior - 7-20-2010 at 09:51 PM
The view looking North from the home I built at La Bocana in '93. Heading there next weekend in fact. (South of the Jack Smith home by 1/2 mile)
Bajatripper - 7-20-2010 at 11:09 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by edm1
It's a small house, not a mansion, and not something that looks special. It must be the story behind it that makes it so special.
Thank you all for your comments, you have given me much to think about. I will U2U a couple of you once I get back from my upcoming trip to ask for
amplyfying info, if you don't mind.
Art, in the book, Mr. Gomez kept telling Jack that he (Mr. Gomez) was building Jack a mansion that would last for 500 years or so.David K - 7-21-2010 at 07:48 AM
Steve, your use of the word 'amplyfying' has me wondering if you are researching places like El Tomatal? See http://vivabaja.com/et about the sound amplyfying rock circles there.schwlind - 7-21-2010 at 08:48 AM
I found and read this incredible book in 2002... then bought the audio version, narrated by Michael Prichard, who we thought was wonderful. We had
just begun building our house in San Antonio Del Mar (Sur).
This story really illuminated what it was like building a house in Baja, which reflected many of the problems and issues we were facing while building
our home. We found the book to be humorous and insightful and helped us in understanding how "things were done in Baja"...
One of my favorite and most humorous passages was the chair that was gifted to Jack... and what that led to...
Great book...
Lindamulegejim - 7-21-2010 at 09:02 AM
I grew up in the Eagle Rock area in Los Angeles - Jack Smith lived nearby in Mount Washington - I loved reading his articles in the LA Times about his
experiences building in Mexico. Later my wife came across a copy of "God and Mister Gomez" in Palm Springs. Inside were newspaper articles with
pictures of Smith and Gomez and the house in various stages of construction. Later, when I built some structures in Mulege I went back and looked
through the book again and had a good laugh. I think the book should be required reading for anyone thinking of building in Baja.Bajahowodd - 7-21-2010 at 04:34 PM
Had many wonderful experiences reading Jack's work. People should remind themselves of the vast time difference involved and the difference in how our
society functioned in Jack's day. Sadly, I think that in present day, Jack's writing would be considered pedestrian, boring, wussy and leftist. Times
change. Can't stop it. All I know is that he entertained me for decades.DENNIS - 7-21-2010 at 05:36 PM
I don't know what the expat population of Baja is, but I believe a large portion of that number can thank Jack Smith for the introduction to the area.
I know his stories in the Times and subsequent book are what enticed me to go south and work on my dream of settling in.
There's been a lot of Pacifico under the bridge since those days. Can't say I don't miss them. It was a peaceful place.desertcpl - 7-21-2010 at 05:48 PM
