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Bahia of L.A

jeremias - 9-12-2010 at 05:18 PM

I could be going to the Bay of L.A next week with some friends here in El Sauzal, but I just read that is the Mexican Independence Day week. Does that mean it's going to be like Semana Santa down there?

shari - 9-12-2010 at 05:32 PM

No problema...Independance Day is a fun holiday celebrated differently in each place. Here we have a parade, food booths, entertainment by the school kids, singers, poems read, plays, folkoric dancing and of course el Grito de Independance. It is usually only a day and night and not like semana santa when people are travelling all over the place and beaches fill up.
Guerrero Negro has a 4 day fiesta around INdependance Day with live bands, a fair, dances, events like traditional fiestas.

sanquintinsince73 - 9-12-2010 at 05:38 PM

Probably not. I think that they only get one day off and the 16th is on Thursday. I hope your not planning on staying at the well known motel there. The name escapes me and for good reason. My last time there, we stopped for some breakfast and the huevos rancheros consisted of 2 eggs, canned beans, and some canned Herdez salsa poured over the eggs. F****** disgusting. The bad part is that we were charged twelve dollars per plate. I was so peeed to begin with at the pee poor quality of the food and then to be reamed with the bill. F***ing still peees me off. These people take advantage of the fact that they are the best known rat hole there and they gouge people because there basically is nowhere else to go. Now don't get me wrong, I am a former infantry Marine and I'll cut somethings throat and eat it to survive. But to subject my wife and kids to this crap really set's me off. But anyway, enjoy your trip.

jeremias - 9-12-2010 at 05:44 PM

thanks you guys, I think I'm gonna end up going then. I'm going with a some local 20 somethings here and a bunch of girls from Spain, should be fun! And I'm pretty sure we're going to be doing the camping thing, but I'm guessing it's probably boiling....oh well!

sanquintinsince73 - 9-12-2010 at 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jeremias
thanks you guys, I think I'm gonna end up going then. I'm going with a some local 20 somethings here and a bunch of girls from Spain, should be fun! And I'm pretty sure we're going to be doing the camping thing, but I'm guessing it's probably boiling....oh well!

Girls from Spain???? Hummmm, got room for one more??

David K - 9-12-2010 at 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sanquintinsince73
Probably not. I think that they only get one day off and the 16th is on Thursday. I hope your not planning on staying at the well known motel there. The name escapes me and for good reason. My last time there, we stopped for some breakfast and the huevos rancheros consisted of 2 eggs, canned beans, and some canned Herdez salsa poured over the eggs. F****** disgusting. The bad part is that we were charged twelve dollars per plate. I was so peeed to begin with at the pee poor quality of the food and then to be reamed with the bill. F***ing still peees me off. These people take advantage of the fact that they are the best known rat hole there and they gouge people because there basically is nowhere else to go. Now don't get me wrong, I am a former infantry Marine and I'll cut somethings throat and eat it to survive. But to subject my wife and kids to this crap really set's me off. But anyway, enjoy your trip.

With so many motels and eating places there... think you could try and remember who were "These people", as you called them?

From north to south some places I can think of...

Los Vientos, Raquel & Larry's, Daggett's, Villa Bahia, Las Hamacas, Costa del Sol, Villa Vita, Guillermo's, Casa Diaz.

All are listed at http://www.bahiadelosangeles.info

sanquintinsince73 - 9-12-2010 at 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K

Quote:

I just found it on the internet. The name is Villa Vita.

sanquintinsince73 - 9-12-2010 at 06:05 PM

By the way DavidK, I really dig your post's and photos.

Debra - 9-12-2010 at 06:08 PM

Nobody, but, nobody goes to Villa Vita. Lot's of great resturants! If you want just basic rooms (cheap, on the beach in town) Try Diaz's. Nicer? All the great stuff and great hosts. Villa Bahia about 2 miles north of the village. Lots of other places too.

David K - 9-12-2010 at 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sanquintinsince73
By the way DavidK, I really dig your post's and photos.

Thank you!

I would have guessed Villa Vita... LOL!

That place you want to avoid like the plague! Well known to the Bahia 'insiders' about issues with their hotel and swimming pool and food storage... In all fairness, these rumors are about 10 years old... But, I have yet to hear good things about Villa Vita or their RV Park area habits & charges.

Costa del Sol has excellent food... and their original rooms are reported comfy. We stayed in their new building and the bed... well, sleeping on the floor would have been softer!

sanquintinsince73 - 9-12-2010 at 06:12 PM

Thank you Nomads. Damn I love this site!!

sanquintinsince73 - 9-12-2010 at 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Debra
Nobody, but, nobody goes to Villa Vita. Lot's of great resturants! If you want just basic rooms (cheap, on the beach in town) Try Diaz's. Nicer? All the great stuff and great hosts. Villa Bahia about 2 miles north of the village. Lots of other places too.

Gracias Deb.....you rock!!!!!

Debra - 9-12-2010 at 09:01 PM

here is the web-site for Villa Bahia www.villabahia.com I've never stayed there, but, do go and hang out sometimes. I think I remember something about a house they also have for rent there it there is a group of you. Check the site.

Diaz: I got blow out of my place last year (even tried to nail my door shut, didn't work) so I got a room there.. I think it was $25USD, it is walking distance to just about everything, and as I said on the beach.

Both pet friendly.

Edit: for additional info.

[Edited on 9-13-2010 by Debra]

redhilltown - 9-12-2010 at 09:45 PM

We were just at Costa Del Sol a few weeks ago and I can also recommend them for food and lodging...very nice people, good food, and a/c in the rooms (and unlike the old days, power is 24/7...well..most of the time, this is Baja after all). With temps in the low 100's and humidity close behind, I"ll take a slab of concrete for a bed as long as the a/c is working. It should be cooling-ish off by now.

A great side trip that David K can have more info about is to Mision San Borja and I know they have a huge celebration there once a year but for some reason I do not think it's Independence day but coming up soon? Very interesting tour and excursion.

Debra - 9-12-2010 at 11:56 PM

Costa de Sol, very nice, great food! Costly by Bahia standerds, You have to ask Victoria when she is making her squash soup (to die for!........I always stop by along my travels through the village and take some home)

Also a MUST is China's tacos.............right next to the "phone company" and Liquor store.

Alrejandra's (I know I blew the spelling) on the right as you come into the village, red table cloths, red on the building. Great food, great host,Alijanda ( I once wandered in there , just needing some human contact, and "crashed" a family b-day party I ordered a glass of vino and tried to keep a low profile.......not a chance! I was swooped up (no way you can get away from a Mexican B-Party! Great time and met new friends. I was not allowed to pay for my glass of vino....so I brought her a new spice the next day, which I think she is using to this day.

and China's sister (China also drives the taxi) Sunday is Barria day at China's taco stand......don't miss it!

If you have a special event........Try Las Veintos, not cheap,. but, excelient food. If Dah-veed is there cooking. Last time I was there this spring he was in Merdia.

Well in reading this I'm thinking I maybe should have put this on the resturant review board, but, heck, it was asked here..........Lo siento

Debra - 9-13-2010 at 12:29 AM

What David K. is refering to at San Borja is the "Day of the Dead" I haven't been, but, I hear it is a huge Blast! You might what to do your own research in to this.............I will share what I "know" from what I have been told.............which might be totally false............anyway.

"Day of the Dead" is a time when the Mexicans honor their dead family members by going to their graves and clebrating their lives, they take them flowers and food and honor, they spend time at the graves....most often a party ensues....which the family at San Borja has issues with since they are Morman

David K - 9-13-2010 at 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Debra
What David K. is refering to at San Borja is the "Day of the Dead" I haven't been, but, I hear it is a huge Blast! You might what to do your own research in to this.............I will share what I "know" from what I have been told.............which might be totally false............anyway.

"Day of the Dead" is a time when the Mexicans honor their dead family members by going to their graves and clebrating their lives, they take them flowers and food and honor, they spend time at the graves....most often a party ensues....which the family at San Borja has issues with since they are Morman

Umm... not me refering, it was 'redhilltown'.

and, no it is not a 'Day of the Dead' event... it is a trditional fiesta in honor of the mission saint 'San Francisco de Borja' on (or about) Oct. 10. The local fiesta at the mission where ranchers from miles around come to have a fiesta with "fireworks, firewater, and music" as the Lower California Guidebook describes.

As Debra mentions, this mainly Catholic celebration with much alcohol is not enjoyed by the one family who actually lives at San Borja, who do not drink alcohol... and probably have a huge mess to clean up?!

You could do a Nomad search and read about previous fiestas at San Borja, in October.

redhilltown - 9-13-2010 at 09:22 AM

yes...that is what I was thinking of! If you WANTED to go to such an event it is probably interesting to say the least but I wouldn't want to recommend a nice, quiet side trip to a beautiful historical site and have them come up on something like that!

David K - 9-13-2010 at 05:39 PM

Bedman took some nice photos at and in the mission a few years ago: http://vivabaja.com/bedman2

Here are the ones I took last summer (2009) at San Borja:
http://vivabaja.com/709/page16.html

It is well worth the sidetrip!

[Edited on 9-14-2010 by David K]

sanquintinsince73 - 9-13-2010 at 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by shari
we get lots of people here from BOLA as we are pretty much in the same area of central baja so we are close enough to easily drive in an afternoon.

One neat thing we have here apart from perfect fall weather is that we have Asuncion Island very close to shore and perfect for kayaking and kayak fishing. Then for a more challenging paddle, San Roque Island is excellent for kayaking as well...a fun morning paddle out around the islands is easily doable. It is an interesting contrast between the both places and makes for a great holiday.
Shari, your campo at Asuncion is definitely on our to do list after reading your post's and checking out your photos.

[Edited on 9-14-2010 by sanquintinsince73]

BajaBlanca - 9-13-2010 at 06:34 PM

San Borja looks amazing !!! time to go there methinks. thanx for putting up the photo. I had no idea it was so intact.

David K - 9-13-2010 at 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaBlanca
San Borja looks amazing !!! time to go there methinks. thanx for putting up the photo. I had no idea it was so intact.

Oh it is a huge thing out there in the desert... Really amazing to think all the solid blocks of stone were quarried some distance away and brought to the mission site to build that massive church... construction of the stone church was done by the Dominicans after 1773 and ended in 1801, without a bell tower.

The adobe ruins are behind the stone church and have a awning to protect some of them... added after this photo was taken by Jack Swords... It is likely the Franciscans built most of the adobe church during their short time at San Borja (1768-1773).

The mission was founded by the Jesuits in 1762, as the next to the last mission of theirs, before being expelled from the New World.

toneart - 9-13-2010 at 07:32 PM

David,

Your photos are great! Do you have any idea how that stairwell was constructed? I can see the blocks, but the whole thing, including the center pole and the steps look like they were carved out of stone. :?:

David K - 9-13-2010 at 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by toneart
David,

Your photos are great! Do you have any idea how that stairwell was constructed? I can see the blocks, but the whole thing, including the center pole and the steps look like they were carved out of stone. :?:

They were! Here's all the stairway photos I took Tony, bottom to top and back:

BajaDanD - 9-13-2010 at 10:55 PM

Each stone is shaped like a keyhole and stacked on top of the other at slightly a diffent degree eventually you have a staircase

David K - 9-13-2010 at 11:10 PM

No doubt a secret of the Free Masons? :light:

Debra - 9-14-2010 at 12:29 AM

Those stairs are very scary to walk down. Just looking at the pics. reminds me of having to have help down them. Thanks again David :biggrin: