BajaMama - 2-3-2018 at 07:43 AM
Does anyone know if the curio shop next to the El Marmol road has reopened? Maybe in a different location? In October it looked abandoned, such a
heartbreak, they had the best carved onyx for the BEST prices anywhere I have seen.
bajabuddha - 2-3-2018 at 07:53 AM
Another place to check out is the llantera/restaurant/RV park in San Augustin just up the road a piece from the curio shop. They don't have a 'store'
per se, but they do sell some very nice pieces there as well. You may have to ask to see their wares if they still have any.
Udo - 2-3-2018 at 08:35 AM
The nicest pieces of marmol I had seen, aside from the store you were talking about, are at Mama Espinoza's restaurant in El Rosario.
woody with a view - 2-3-2018 at 09:24 AM
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B077FHMKGT/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?i...
Rancho Sonora, Km. 149
David K - 2-3-2018 at 10:03 AM
It was a fun shop. I hope to hear of it reopening.
Photos from when some of our Nomad 'Lost Mission Search' group stopped there in 2011after coming back to the highway from El Mármol and El Volcán:
Backs of Nomads 'El Vergel' and 'BajaCat'
To enjoy all the photos of our Lost Mission Search and video clips (at El Volcán geyser):
SEE: Desert Adventure, Interesting Geology, The Lost Mission site, Barite and Onyx mines, a COLD water geyser, and much more...
PART 1: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=52696
PART 2: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=52735
PART 3: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=52779
PART 4: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=52804
PART 5: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=52833
PART 6: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=52864
This was bajalou's final Baja adventure before he left this world for another, we miss Lou and his great enthusiasm he had for Baja!
BajaMama - 2-4-2018 at 08:44 AM
Thanks for the pics, David K. Udo, the pieces at Mama's are great but the prices are 3x what they charged at the little curio shop. That's why I
miss it !
Udo - 2-4-2018 at 09:03 AM
You are right about the prices at Mama Espinoza.
Thanks for the photos, DK. I really would like to get some of the wind chimes in your photo.
Km 149...next time to BA.
boe4fun - 2-4-2018 at 02:16 PM
The wind chimes are great but break easily in a good wind.
thebajarunner - 2-4-2018 at 03:04 PM
About three years ago we were in the shop and the old guy lamented that he was tired, wanted to retire, then asked out guys if we wanted to buy his
operation....
Well, of course that did not exactly ring any chimes.
So we graciously demurred, bought some nice pieces and split
Last year the place looked closed up and we assumed that he had never found that buyer.
I always wondered how them made the pieces. They are all pretty uniform so it looks like them have some kind of jig to work with.
Also, I too found Mama E prices to be pretty steep, particularly after having left the Marmol place just a few hours earlier.
That's Baja.... get it now, next time it will be all different.
Sr.vienes - 2-4-2018 at 03:22 PM
Stopped there last year and a relative was there and said our old friend had passed away, and they thought that they might reopen. Four or five years
ago I was talking with a couple of his nephews from the Ensenada area and they told me he got most of his stock from someplace in San Quintien. Might
try to look around a little when we go through at the end of the month.
BajaBlanca - 2-4-2018 at 07:25 PM
Just went by a curio shop in La Paz and they had quite a few onyx pieces, but it was closed as it is nighttime. I can't imagine the prices are good
but you never know.
We also bought some sculptures at the El Marmol over the years. He had such a nice array.
meme - 2-5-2018 at 01:32 PM
Several years ago we stopped there & we bought several nice pieces from the old gentleman. He told us his sons took the rocks from the mine to TJ
& carved them & brought them to him to sell. I have heard since that he has passed away so have been wondering if anyone else has the shop
now. My daughter just recently asked me about those pieces as they are very nice & many comment on them when visiting.
David K - 2-5-2018 at 05:00 PM
The old man (Santiago, I recall?) made us breakfast in 2000 one morning after Camping near El Volcan. There is a photo of him (I think?) in the 1970
Baja Guide by Criss Cross... when his ranch was on the old main road, over the rise, north of the highway, where he moved to.
