BajaNomad

Prison craft shop in S Rosalia

philodog - 10-16-2015 at 12:43 PM

Has anyone checked out the prisoners craft shop at the S Rosalia prison? I`ve never had the cajones to voluntarily go into a Mexican prison. Is it worth the stop?

mtnpop - 10-16-2015 at 01:16 PM

yes, worth the stop, or do you look like ElChapo??? then i would be concerned...

Udo - 10-16-2015 at 01:47 PM

It REALLY is worth the stop.

The guards will confiscate any photo cameras, however, phones are OK.
Any confiscated merchandise will be returned upon exiting the facility.

Guaranteed you'll fall in love with the abalone art work.

bajagrouper - 10-16-2015 at 02:18 PM

Shari turned me on to it a couple years ago, you park in the lot,walk through a chain link fence to a small guard shack, the guard took my drivers license and entered the front door. the gift shop was about 30 feet down the corridor to a door on the left, the right door goes into the prison.
Beautiful abalone ear rings, maps of Baja and I bought a black belt buckle with inlaid abalone Mack 10 and the makers initials......

bajabuddha - 10-16-2015 at 03:51 PM

I have dozens of trinkets en mi casa from there. Back in The Day you used to barter with the inmates directly through a very high (thankfully) chain link fence with guards present. Now I understand there's a separate 'gift shop' with a trustee selling the displayed wares. You will definitely come away with a sense of not wanting to screw up in Mexico, and with some incredible artwork.

philodog - 10-16-2015 at 04:03 PM

Thanks! It`s on this year`s agenda for sure.

rhintransit - 10-16-2015 at 05:45 PM

It's a very interesting stop..well worth it if you a have the time. I wanted to buy one of the guards t shirts, but no go, rats.
For more prisoner art, there's a Cereso in Loreto, above Miramar. I've never been to see the art, but have heard there is a shop.
Also, a group who sells the Loreto prisoners art has approached us/producers of the Sukasa Arts and Crafts Bazaar about having a booth in the 4 th annual show, December 12th...we are looking forward to having them. Worth putting on your calendar if you are in the area!

bajagrouper - 10-16-2015 at 06:02 PM

I understand there is actually a prison art store in the Cancun airport...

MulegeAL - 10-16-2015 at 08:34 PM

Yeah go there. And meet El Tigre the jailhouse dog too.

Every time I go I try to get the guards to trade me for a jailer hat, so far that has been a nogo. I don't think they understand how much dinero they are leaving on the table not selling jailhouse swag.

shari - 10-17-2015 at 08:59 AM

The prison store is a Baja must see...hahaha...the guards are usually pretty cool but when I went, they made me put on long pants but that was when you went right into the prison to the chain link fence.

The stuff is beautiful and some of it is very unique!