BajaNomad - SAN BORJA MISSION PHOTOS (please add yours)

SAN BORJA MISSION PHOTOS (please add yours)

David K - 4-27-2012 at 02:18 PM

The Spanish mission of San Francisco de Borja Adac was founded in 1762 and was in operation for 56 years. The Jesuits and Franciscans constructed adobe buildings during their time on the peninsula and the Dominicans built the stone church and attached rooms that remain today as the furthest north stone mission. Mission construction ended in 1801, and only the bell tower was not built before the project halted.

Over time, the roof and some walls had failed, but have since been recently fixed. The only full time family living at San Borja, headed by Jose Gerardo, can guide you around the mission grounds or extended hikes to petroglyph sites, the mission road 'El Camino Real' and more. Jose has been working on the restoration of the mission, himself.

1941 Max Miller Photo:

1952 Howard Gulick Photos:

Jack Swords 2000 Photos:

2009 David K Photos:

mtgoat666 - 4-27-2012 at 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
The Jesuits and Franciscans constructed adobe buildings during their time on the peninsula and the Dominicans built the stone church and attached rooms that remain today as the furthest north stone mission.

The Jesuits, Franciscans and Dominicans did the building? Actually, I think they did the designing and supervising and most of the construction labor was indigenous peoples. The Mission theocracy was so over-bearing, the laborers were virtually slaves. But some of the buildings are quite pretty and impressive, just remember the laborers were slaves, or if nottrue slaves, were virtually equivalent to slaves under a brow-beating theocracy that imposed western values to squash indigenous practices and culture.

Cypress - 4-27-2012 at 02:45 PM

mtgoat666, Thanks. Always pointing out the negative side. As if everyone isn't aware of that already. :yes:

The obvious?

David K - 4-27-2012 at 03:56 PM

That's like saying the Sears tower wasn't built by Mr. Sears... duh!

The native converts were the labor force and the mission was for them (to save their souls, etc.) as well as to establish the center of a town. San Borja was home to 3,000 at one time.

This is a photo thread, so Mr. Goat, your San Borja (or Adac, the native name) photos please...

[Edited on 4-27-2012 by David K]

LisaR. - 4-27-2012 at 06:10 PM

I don't have a ton, since I've only been there once, but here are mine--

The road in from the north

And, if you ever need to contact Jenaro for a guide...

David K - 4-28-2012 at 10:48 AM

Thank you Lisa... Those are great!!

bacquito - 4-28-2012 at 02:11 PM

Good viewing, hope to get there this year-will send photos!

Skipjack Joe - 4-28-2012 at 02:59 PM

That fence must be an impediment to photography. Leaving you with nothing but closeups.

Barry A. - 4-28-2012 at 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
That fence must be an impediment to photography. Leaving you with nothing but closeups.

I agree, and it is a shame----progress, I suppose. When I first went there in about 1976 there was no fence, nor any protection, and no "guides" or "staff". It was a surreal place to me, enchanting, and exciting all at the same time. But, too many people came to "see" and things started "happening" and the fence is probably necessary now. I suspect it is still a wonderful place to visit, and gaze, and think about the old ways, etc.

Wonderful photos--------love them all.

Barry

Picture 1

wornout - 4-28-2012 at 04:00 PM

[Edited on 4-28-2012 by wornout]

[Edited on 4-28-2012 by wornout]

SanBorja1.jpg - 43kB

Picture 2

wornout - 4-28-2012 at 04:06 PM

[Edited on 4-28-2012 by wornout]

SanBorja2.gif - 29kB

Picture 3

wornout - 4-28-2012 at 04:08 PM

[Edited on 4-28-2012 by wornout]

SanBorja3.gif - 24kB

Skipjack Joe - 4-28-2012 at 04:18 PM

What on earth?....

You must have the world's smallest camera.

:lol:

Sorry. You'll get used to me.

David K - 4-28-2012 at 08:33 PM

Wornout, can I help? I would love to see your photos maybe a bit bigger... They are at 200 pixels wide now. Lisa's (the photos above yours) are at the max. requested of 800 pixels wide.

Ken Cooke - 4-28-2012 at 09:17 PM

"Going to church" gains a new meaning! Thanks for the photos, David K! :light:

tripledigitken - 4-29-2012 at 06:18 AM

approaching San Borja

scallop shell architectural treatment

Skipjack Joe - 4-29-2012 at 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tripledigitken

I really like this one Ken. The handling of light gives a real ethereal quality which sets the mood. But I'm really impressed with the color rendition of the stone. I didn't think a nikon was capable of such subtlety in colors. A very nice interpretation.

I also like how you cropped the top rather than the bottom to preserve the arches. Most wouldn't have done that.

[Edited on 4-29-2012 by Skipjack Joe]

DianaT - 4-29-2012 at 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
That fence must be an impediment to photography. Leaving you with nothing but closeups.

Yes ---- This is closest we could come to getting the entire front of the building with no fence the last time we were there.

And it is not what we had in mind, but that would have involved removing the fence.

[Edited on 4-29-2012 by DianaT]

LisaR. - 4-29-2012 at 09:55 AM

That's a great angle, Diana! It may not have been what you had in mind, but it is beautiful!

Barry A. - 4-29-2012 at 09:58 AM

I love the shadows you captured, Diane, around the portals. Perfect time of day.

Excellent shot, especially considering the fence.

Barry

Skipjack Joe - 4-29-2012 at 10:52 AM

Diane,

My thoughts were that the interplay betwee the mission and those background cliffs has great potential as a scenic shot. With different lighting conditions there could be different interpretations. I know I would have invested some time in that. Morning vs evening.

But the fence kills the idea. Cutting the building in half to show the cliffs doesn't work. Having a sliver of the background showing also sucks. The totality is needed to make the point.

I find the relationship between these missions and their environment to be very interesting. The Loreto Mission for me lacks that magice. San Javier has it.

But when a mission deteriorates to a mound of sand it does little for me visually.

David K - 4-29-2012 at 10:56 AM

Thanks Diana and Ken.... :bounce:

Mexitron - 4-29-2012 at 11:16 AM

On the road to San Borja--1982-ish---in my old '76 2-wheel drive Toyota.

David K - 4-29-2012 at 07:31 PM

Now THAT'S a road! :spingrin:

Seriously enjoy the 'natural' 2-track roads of old Baja than the wide graded/ washboard, 'improved' roads that replaced them!

wilderone - 5-1-2012 at 09:14 AM

Photobucket has different editing tools now. I didn't see one for resizing - sorry if these are too big

Here are a few – May 2008

David K - 5-1-2012 at 09:23 AM

Those are great Cindi. The resizing is done when you are ready to upload from your PC to your Photobucket album... Click "Customize Your Upload Options" (in blue text) in the box that pops up when you click to upload. Then choose an upload size and click SAVE (800 pixels is the max. requested by Doug, and 640 is a good size, as well).

wilderone - 5-3-2012 at 07:43 AM

Thanks David. I'll look for that tool.

Sprocket - 5-4-2012 at 09:45 AM

LaPazGringo - 5-4-2012 at 04:04 PM

One of my absolute favorite places in all of Baja. The valley, the mission and grounds, the family with so much history there, the road in and out - it all adds up to a magical place. Sitting inside that mission when no one is there is incredible.

David, if you don't mind here is a post on our blog of a trip to San Borja.

http://www.bajabus.org/day-2-bahia-de-los-angeles-to-mission...

Not only do I have no time to post pics right now, but I'm unsure about the process. If the link is not apprpriate, I'll come back and post some pics when I have time.

David K - 5-4-2012 at 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LaPazGringo
One of my absolute favorite places in all of Baja. The valley, the mission and grounds, the family with so much history there, the road in and out - it all adds up to a magical place. Sitting inside that mission when no one is there is incredible.

David, if you don't mind here is a post on our blog of a trip to San Borja.

http://www.bajabus.org/day-2-bahia-de-los-angeles-to-mission...

Not only do I have no time to post pics right now, but I'm unsure about the process. If the link is not apprpriate, I'll come back and post some pics when I have time.

What beautiful photos... THANK YOU!!!

This one from your blog is one of the best I have seen:

[Edited on 5-5-2012 by David K]

geoffff - 12-6-2012 at 11:37 PM

These are my photos from New Years Day 2002. I got a personal tour from young Genaro. He didn't speak any English, and I didn't speak any Spanish (at the time), but we got along great.

-- Geoff

[Edited on 12-7-2012 by geoffff]

David K - 12-7-2012 at 10:35 PM

Great pics geoffff!
San Borja is the furthest north stone mission in Old California. I saw Genero driving a truck towards Rosarito on my last visit in 2009.

BAJACAT - 12-11-2012 at 09:22 PM

Genaro..a truly Baja character,he learn some english just by showing the mission site..he was my guide, for las Tinajitas trip also the mision..

David K - 12-12-2012 at 12:34 AM

Genaro was a cover boy on this magazine:

wilderone - 12-16-2012 at 09:03 AM

geoff - wonderful photos - really enjoyed them. Thanks for posting.