wilderone - 12-13-2004 at 10:40 AM
And so it was created...
Antonio, owner of the Baja Cactus hotel in El Rosario, has graciously agreed to oversee a library, which will be stocked with Baja-related books
donated by all interested Baja enthusiasts. I envision a growing collection, with donations of books, maps, photos, historic and scientific reports,
as people learn about this important library.
So how do we best make it a reality?
1. All of you Baja authors, please donate one or two of your books.
2. Long-time Baja travelers, do you have photos from the 50's-70's - dupes or ones that didn't quite make it into the album? I would suggest putting
some in a photo album or other protective format for this type of donation, with some narrative as to time, place. Old maps? Duplicate guide books?
Even if there are donations of the same publication, they can serve to provide for "check-out" to more than one person at time, or perhaps sell in
order to finance bookshelves, photo frames, etc.
3. Spread the word via club newsletters, organizations which may have something of interest - college geological study groups, rock art enthusiasts,
companies that offer Baja trips.
4. As you plan your next trip, think of the library and your contribution. The hotel is conveniently located next to the gas station. With the
dedication and thoughtfulness of so many travelers passing through El Rosario, it should become a reality in a short period of time - one book at a
time.
Should an event be planned to "kick off" this project and make it official?
Any other ideas? Let's hear them.
I think it's a Great Idea...
Mike Humfreville - 12-13-2004 at 11:55 AM
as long as it's not a burden to the Antonios (Sr. and Jr.) or their staff at the hotel. Also, while contributions to the library would not need
attending, what about withdrawls?
Anyway, great idea.
bajalera - 12-13-2004 at 02:11 PM
Great idea, Wilderone!
Lera
Library / Mini Museum
jrbaja - 12-13-2004 at 03:58 PM
We discussed something regarding a small museum there as well, probably combined.
It would have local handicrafts, fossils, shells, etc. and I need a place to put some things.
My question is, does anyone have contacts for locking display cases out there?
I don't remember if that was discussed as the hotel was just being built but I thought I would mention it just in "case".
[Edited on 12/13/2004 by jrbaja]
cristobal - 12-13-2004 at 04:02 PM
As I pass thru EL ROSARIO for CHRISTMAS .... can I use my ORANGE COUNTY library card ...???
wilderone - 12-13-2004 at 05:18 PM
I think any "check out" procedures may be limited to hotel guests, or others who may want to spend a short time in the immediate area using the
material. Maybe a copy machine could be available for people to copy certain pages that they find interesting (would generate some $). If anyone is
familiar with the Na Balom library in Chiapas, it was similarly started as a private project, and eventually became a large highly acclaimed
depository of Mayan reference material - a lot of it is housed merely for safekeeping.
There could be a "check out" section and a "reference only" section, where the materials available for check out could be more readily replaced in
case they're not returned (although it wouldn't be a good thing if 60 Canadian motorhomes passed through, they each checked out a book, and the
shelves were emptied.) So maybe reference-only as a general rule, unless the person in charge, in his/her discretion lets you borrow something short
term (2 weeks?) I think a combined museum of local fossils, etc. would make a great cultural center. If it gets to be too big a chore, perhaps it
could just be a reference-only library for people to sit around and peruse the materials, like coffee houses ??!! Maybe they could have an internet
cafe as well - charge $2.00/hour.
Wonderful Idea
Baja Bernie - 12-13-2004 at 07:47 PM
I will be sending a couple of each one of my books, Mi Baja No Hurry No Worry and Bouncing Around Baja. I also will be sending a copy of Antonio's
Book Review on Mi Baja for the wall.
I know that they have already figured out a check out procedure that will insure that books are returned before guests check out so that is no
worry--BUT I don't think anyone will want to give up real collectibles.
With help the place could really become the gateway to the"Real Baja"--I hate that term because for some of us all of Baja is the Real Baja.
Mike Humfreville - 12-13-2004 at 07:56 PM
I think of El Rosario as the northern gateway to the central desert.
Mexray - 12-13-2004 at 09:59 PM
I always think of El Rosario as a Pemex Oasis...always stop there to help whet our Bronco's whistle!
Some may remember a 'Hwy 1 South to Mulege' narrative I posted on the old board a while back...the El Rosario part went like this:
...We're on a high mesa now, the wind blows us around.
The road ahead disappears, hang on tight, we're headed to ground.
Out of fuel, with our brakes fading, we've got it in low gear.
El Rosario's ahead, it's all right now, we'll coast in from here.
The familiar green Pemex sign, calls us in as we wait our turn.
How much will it cost - who cares, we've got a few pesos to burn...
David K - 12-13-2004 at 10:54 PM
It's kind of neat that the owner of the El Rosario Pemex is now a Baja Nomad, and such a nice person! Here is the station, next to the Baja Cactus
Motel, from behind and high above, ... last month:
And here's Antonio and Reynaldo
jrbaja - 12-13-2004 at 11:22 PM
at the entrance to Baja Cactus Motel. Which by the way, is going to be a reason in itself to spend some time in El Rosario!
jrbaja - 12-13-2004 at 11:23 PM
OOPs!!
jrbaja - 12-13-2004 at 11:28 PM
The "Courtyard" with antique gas pump and looking towards the southeast in that last picture.
David K - 12-13-2004 at 11:58 PM
JR was standing in front of (new) Room 201 for that photo looking down on the original rooms Antonio Sr. built... They will soon be torn down as more
of the new ultra modern rooms are completed, to make room for more improvements. All the new rooms have boosted water pressure showers now... and they
are BIG showers, with a bench seat! Like at American deluxe motels, soap, shampoo, and hand lotion are complemtary... 27" satellite TV as well (3:
English and 3: Spanish channels now)... Still at introductory price of $30/single! Ask for a new room, if vacant.
bajalera - 12-14-2004 at 09:53 AM
If Antonio's is the hotel with that old gas pump, then that's where we stayed on our last trip north--and the surveyors taking measurements must have
been plotting out the new addition.
Was the pump the one that served Espinosa's, in the Good-Old-Bad-Road days when the little restaurant's decor consisted of hundreds of business cards
(including a couple of mine) and some impressive fossil trilobites?
Lera
I'm purty sure
jrbaja - 12-14-2004 at 11:38 AM
that Antonio told me that that is indeed the same pump of old.
David K - 12-14-2004 at 08:47 PM
Antonio's family had a gas pump and motel before Espinoza's started their business. That was the Munoz pump, not Espinoza's. Mama became famous to the
gringo travelers because she was raised many years in America and speaks perfect English.
It is all part of an interesting story that goes back a hundred years +, when Antonio's family settled in El Rosario.
Friends
Baja Bernie - 12-14-2004 at 09:07 PM
May I say that it does my heart good to see two of my friends working together on something worthwhile. Yea! You got it David and JR. Hope this
continues for a few days before the sparks begin to fly again.
[Edited on 12-15-2004 by Baja Bernie]