BajaNomad - If you could change just one thing about Baja California,

If you could change just one thing about Baja California,

bajalera - 12-16-2004 at 02:49 PM

what would it be? (And please let's not have any "I wouldn't change a thing" responses, which indicate either that somebody hasn't been paying attention or hasn't made many visits.)

Here's my change:
I would have made Highway One a separate route, and retained the old Carretera Transpeninsular as a toll road [with the fee steep enough to maintain it in its usual haphazard state]. Ranches along it that served traditional food to travelers would continue to do so, but would also provide gas, ice, tequila, and cold beer and sodas.

The new highway would occasionally be in sight, with access to it for the faint-of-heart. People who lasted all the way to La Paz would be given Conquistador of the Carretera certificates suitable for framing, with their names hand-lettered.

Lera

[Edited on 12-17-2004 by bajalera]

elgatoloco - 12-16-2004 at 02:58 PM

When you crossed the border southbound time elapsed at 1/3 the normal rate, so that our two week trips would last six!!!! :bounce:

JESSE - 12-16-2004 at 02:59 PM

Easy,

I would declare Baja a free and independant nation from Mexico.

Bob H - 12-16-2004 at 04:15 PM

I would like to have visited Bahia de los Muertos just ONE MORE TIME before the construction began! Just one more time...

Bob H

Mexitron - 12-16-2004 at 04:18 PM

Don't do that Jesse--our president might have designs!!! :lol:

I'd like to see a highway circumventing Camalu to San Quintin....the traffic is getting so bad there, and you wouldn't have speeding vacationers endangering pedestrians lives in those cities.

DanO - 12-16-2004 at 04:34 PM

Ban the plastic grocery bag.

Bruce R Leech - 12-16-2004 at 05:10 PM

I would like to remove all crime corruption and drugs I guess crime would cover the other 2.

Debra - 12-16-2004 at 05:26 PM

I would figure out someway to make the border closer to me than a 2 day trip.

NO, Wait........I should move closer, that would solve my only problem. :yes

(I second banning plastic bags)

Dave - 12-16-2004 at 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JESSE
Easy,

I would declare Baja a free and independant nation from Mexico.

OK, but then what?

You would still have the same mindset, same politicos, same mafioso, same mordida...etc.

Wouldn't it be better to reform Mexico?

Your country has a wonderful constitution, independent spirit and caring populace. Wouldn't it be great if it really worked as designed?

If Mexico's people were freed from government exploitation there's no limit to what they could achieve.

Oso - 12-16-2004 at 05:34 PM

Something similar to bajalera's idea; the major cities connected by a modern highway adequate for commercial traffic, but also something like Mex 1 as a "parkway"(like the Blue Ridge)- a simple 2-lane, paved (with shoulders) but restricted, no semis or buses, with a 45mph limit. The terraceria (dirt roads), I wouldn't change at all, and I wouldn't want the commercial route to go anywhere Mex 1 doesn't today.

If that's too pie-in-the-sky, I'd settle for un P-nche metro mas de pavimento.

[Edited on 12-17-2004 by Oso]

gringorio - 12-16-2004 at 05:37 PM

Un-pave highway 1

Bruce R Leech - 12-16-2004 at 06:19 PM

drill it full of pot holes. the nicer you make it the worse it is for Baja. if you want to go to L.A. good if you want L.a here thin build a super highway all the way down.

Me No - 12-16-2004 at 06:23 PM

This is the easiest question I have ever heard of.

I wouldn't change a thing. :lol:

Reduce

jrbaja - 12-16-2004 at 06:30 PM

the beer and tequila prices. :lol:

Too easy!1

thebajarunner - 12-16-2004 at 06:32 PM

Peel up the pavement south of Maneadero.
Then only those who really, really, really want to be Baja folks can do so.
All else can stay home, or hang out on Avenida Revolucion.
Coming back from the 1971 Mexican 1000 we came upon a full box of tools sitting on a spare next to a broken Stroppe Bronco racer.
A day later, still there. On the main road!!
No mas, baby, No mas...

Baja Arriba!!

Mexray - 12-16-2004 at 07:27 PM

It's hard to improve on such a great place like Baja California! Isn't that why we travel there? A few more fish in the Sea would be nice...

changes in Baja

jim janet - 12-16-2004 at 08:04 PM

Boy what a loaded question, I would not any non mexicans to own land, no more gringos,coscoes,marinas,Cabos.Let the original Baja be with out us.

rts551 - 12-16-2004 at 08:05 PM

geeze this is easy

you can have the paved roads/\. I liked it when it was dirt and took a few nice relaxing days - too many trucks and trailers now

4baja - 12-16-2004 at 08:14 PM

cheaper beer, gas,less large trucks. :coolup:

Go Back to about 1533

Baja Bernie - 12-16-2004 at 08:44 PM

AND remove the Padre's, their missions and the mind set that destroyed all of the original people of Baja.

Mike Humfreville - 12-16-2004 at 08:48 PM

When I though about this throughout the afternoon, my conclusion, like Bruce?s, was crime. Now I don?t mean just crime enacted by the Mexican against tourists, but all crime in Baja. But then I thought deeper and formed an image.

Most potential tourists stay away from Mexico in general and Baja specifically, because they are afraid. What are they afraid of? Crime.

So, let?s say, we agree to work together to eliminate all crime in Baja.

A few years downstream our favorite remote beaches and dusty deserts are flooded with the folks that were too afraid to visit before we eliminated crime. Now Baja is entirely like Cabo is today, filled with too much commercialism and catering to the tourist with too much money to dispense in a 5 or 10 day vacation. YeeHaw!

So here?s my proposal, it?s kinda like reality exaggerated. Let?s still work toward completely eliminating crime by eliminating the need for crime, usually poverty. But let?s lie about it.

Let?s help build a social system that allows everyone to earn as much money as they deserve and to agree with that amount. Then let?s invent wild tales about marauding bands of bandits attacking large motor home convoys in the desert and spying subs trolling the bottom of the Sea of Cortez and sinking innocent anglers. Sharks?? Yeah, like no where you?ve ever seen. The Quick Step?? It?s everywhere man, stay away. Don?t drink the water!

But, seriously, crime gets my vote. Crime affects tourists only minimally. It impacts local Mexican families on a daily basis. Mexican officials, born into a system where the mordida rules, are harder on their own then they are on us. Tourists only spend limited time in Baja. Folks who live there are subject to daily scrutiny of money-hungry corrupt authorities.

A friend once gave a Land Cruiser to a Mexican pal who worked in the U.S. but lived in Mexico. Every time he crossed the border the Mexican guards hit the fellow for mordida because the car had California plates. There are many stories about Mexicans in some position of authority taking advantage of other Mexicans.

And, finally, if you?re going to eliminate crime, where do you start? Maybe it?s a global deal. It has to start everywhere. Who will be the first? Once we?re on a roll, lets work on hatred and prejudice, mental illness, fear, ?

I guess I like the idea about perfecting Baja and lying to everyone better. It?s more realistic. Unfortunately.

Good post Lera.

JESSE - 12-16-2004 at 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave

Quote:

Originally posted by JESSE
Easy,

I would declare Baja a free and independant nation from Mexico.

Baja gets back around 25% of the taxes it produces, if we had the whole enchilada we could do many things.

trade,,,

thebajarunner - 12-16-2004 at 11:36 PM

Texas for Baja....
We stole Texas fair and square, should have taken Baja instead.
On second thought, I like Mexico too much to wish Texas upon them.

Baja Arriba!!

Mike

Skeet/Loreto - 12-17-2004 at 08:01 AM

Mike your Post was very good Indeed!

I would suggest that if the peoples of Both Baja and their visitors would fully practice the "Ten Commandants" Baja and the United States and all visitors would make this World and Baja a much better Place.

Skeet/Loreto

"In God I Trust"

Time Machine

bajagrouper - 12-17-2004 at 11:29 AM

I would like to see Nopolo Cove return to the beautiful place it was when I first camped there in 1972, if you told me then there would be golf, hotels,fences and planned communities with beach dues I would have laughed...like it or not developers will ruin that magical place we call Baja...paz

Crime

thebajarunner - 12-17-2004 at 01:37 PM

Mike, you are right on.... read my post today on the Baja News site from today's LATimes on crime.

And, refer to my previous post in this thread, before the pavement, no crime in the dirt!!

(We did lose two racing spares and a new dirt bike in 1973, but it was in beautiful paved downtown Ensenada, not on the dirt road to La Paz.)

Baja Arriba!!

marla - 12-17-2004 at 02:43 PM

well i was going to say cheaper beer but i see that's been taken, so I would say the only thing I would change about Baja is that I would own a house there!

Dave - 12-17-2004 at 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Skeet/Loreto
Mike your Post was very good Indeed!

I would suggest that if the peoples of Both Baja and their visitors would fully practice the "Ten Commandants" Baja and the United States and all visitors would make this World and Baja a much better Place.

Skeet/Loreto

"In God I Trust"

Skeet, can you name them?

You get extra rapture points if you get them in order.

(No fair peeking) :biggrin:

Don Alley - 12-17-2004 at 03:42 PM

Just a small request, that shouldn't be too difficult:

I would like to see Loreto have an adequate amount of smaller currency.

Those 500 peso notes the teller machines spit out are too often non-negotiable because of a lack of change at the stores.

They were rationing change at the bank today. For four crisp new 500 peso notes, I got a 200, eight 100s, and two funky 500s, lol. But at least I got some change after a 50 minute wait. At times they've said no.

But with both teller machines kaput today, the oversupply of 500 peso notes may be moderated.

There's a poster on the bank wall announcing 1000 peso bills! Just what Loreto needs!

:spingrin:

Don

That's funny Don

jrbaja - 12-17-2004 at 04:04 PM

Because twice I've gone in there to change $1000.00 u.s. to pesos, and all they had was 100 and 200 peso notes so I leave with a big ol wad of paper :lol:

Figures!

Dave - 12-17-2004 at 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by grover
[I can recall one in particular about judging. BIG TIME sinner here, in that regard. :rolleyes:

Grover, maybe you should peek. I don't believe judging made the top ten list.

Oso - 12-17-2004 at 06:08 PM

Actually, they all now have footnotes with annotations regarding exceptions, caveats, alternative interpretations, hold-harmless clauses and Supreme Court precedents which render them, ipso facto, null and void.

Oso - 12-17-2004 at 06:15 PM

P.S. RE: Abreojos road: It's 2/3 paved but we still couldn't get there last month (B1k) as the water was up in the arroyo just past Campo Rene, stranding folks going either way. It was down enough the next day to get through.

rts551 - 12-17-2004 at 06:41 PM

Whistler - seen the road like that before. water comes in across the flats. be there sunday. where was the visa problem. Never seen them enforce that before::

Thanks for the tip Whistler

Debra - 12-17-2004 at 06:51 PM

I've never seen that either, I've sat right in front of them and copied from my old FMt to the new one.....I won't do that again.

Mexitron - 12-17-2004 at 08:47 PM

I'm not to good either--broke the first four in just the last hour..... :lol:

tourist permit copying

Barry A. - 12-17-2004 at 08:55 PM

I had the Immigracion guys get very upset with me at the TJ border when I tried to copy from an old Tourist Permit----for the same reason (supposed to turn them in) but they did not fine me, just yelled at me, and threatened a fine. This was about 6 years ago.

I do not do that anymore.

Bruce R Leech - 12-17-2004 at 09:04 PM

unfortunately that is how a lot of learned in the old days , that is what is so nice about these forums. we share and we learn. and my spelling gets a little better every day.

the 11th commandment don't mis spell on this forum.

Bruce........

Debra - 12-17-2004 at 09:33 PM

Frm won bad speler to anoter...i undrstand evry ting u rite......knot to wory........and I enjoy your posts!

Santiago - 12-18-2004 at 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Barry A.
I had the Immigracion guys get very upset with me at the TJ border when I tried to copy from an old Tourist Permit----for the same reason (supposed to turn them in) but they did not fine me, just yelled at me, and threatened a fine.

I gotta ask - What do they do with the used, turned-in forms?

Bruce R Leech - 12-18-2004 at 08:19 AM

some where in Mexico they Have the worlds Biggest circular file. I am sure that all of the paper work that I have filed out and submitted with 6 copy's is carefully filed away, and can easily be accessed when needed. :lol:

direct impacts

latitude26n - 12-18-2004 at 03:34 PM

Baja is fine but can I change some things that would directly impact the peninsula?

1. At the Frontera and airports all surfboards must be placed on a measuring rack and if over oh, let's say 8ft., may not be transported in to the country
2. Unplug internet surf forecasts and erase it from the minds of the masses.
3. Ridable waves would peel around all of those little puntas on the Gulf-side that we admire longingly.

[Edited on 12-18-2004 by latitude26n]

surfer jim - 12-18-2004 at 10:32 PM

Remove all the "surf camps"....but allow 8"4" boards IN.... :lol:

Markitos - 12-20-2004 at 07:50 AM

A one stop port check in ..a ten year boat permit yea baby yea no more lost time sitting around waiting for paper work..lost two weeks last time waitng for temp permit :fire:

... But thats also what I like about Baja .....no ones realy in a hurry, :biggrin: