David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65166
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Book Review: BOUNCING AROUND BAJA by Bernie Swaim
The second fun filled book of true stories from Baja Bernie is good reading. As Bernie expands his travels beyond La Salina and meets more Baja Amigos
(and Nomads), the reader gets to know them, too.
Bernie begins with 'An Hysterical Overview of the History of Baja California' explaining how the peninsula was created and how the creator of Don
Quixote named the place before it was discovered!
The reader learns how Baja was an attraction to other Europeans, including an Irishman named Crostwaite in 1861.
Some of Bernie's personal travels even went beyond Baja including the Copper Canyon train ride. Many cartoon illustrations are very well done and give
the book even more personality.
Several 'Baja Nomads' are mentioned, including Jimmy Smith, Skeet, Keri, Dave/Juanita/Porky (of Cielito Lindo), and some character Bernie calls 'The
Baja Connection' who posts on Nomad, on occaision!
More good stories include those about investing in beach front property, roadside rock art, pitaya cactus, why so many Mexicans are named 'Smith', and
the story about Jimmy Smith coming to Baja.
The S.S. Catalina's history, now half sunk in Ensenada Bay, is revealed.
This new book will both entertain and inform the reader. I highly recommend it (even if there wan't a chapter about me in it)!
Thanks Bernie, good job!
Order today from http://www.caballeropublishing.com
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surfer jim
Super Nomad
Posts: 1891
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: high desert
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Now we have to decide wether to get this book or the new CLINTON book....I know about BAJA ...but want to know about MONICA....
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Baja Bernie
`Normal` Nomad Correspondent
Posts: 2962
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: Sunset Beach
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Mood: Just dancing through life
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Surfer Jim
I think if you buy my book you will have a far longer positive reaction to a fun part of Baja you may not have experienced. Hey! you can even share it
with your kids and grandkids.
Pay $40.00 to get a small vicarious experience and a bunch of BS. Look for the BBC interview with Clinton where he apparently gets very angry when
the interviwer asks if he is really contrite.
My smidgen of a claim to fame is that I have had so many really good friends. By Bernie Swaim December 2007
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jrbaja
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4863
Registered: 2-2-2003
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$40.00
for that price, you can get Bernie's book and experience the rest yourself in a few select clubs down here.
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Herb
Nomad
Posts: 202
Registered: 11-6-2003
Location: Torrance, CA
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Another Bump...
For some great work! I just re-read this book a second time! If you love Baja, or even if you just love life and the "Human Experience" you will love
this book!
I've struggled for years to explain to people what, exactly, it is that I love so much about Baja. Now it is easier to just tell them to read this
book. If, after that, they don't "get it", then I tell them they never will.
Thanks, Bernie. I hope there is more to come!
PS - Our prayers are with you and your wife!
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Baja Bernie
`Normal` Nomad Correspondent
Posts: 2962
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: Sunset Beach
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Mood: Just dancing through life
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Herb
That makes my day because I wrote both of these books with exactly that in mind. Showing people how the two cultures are meshing and forming what I
believe will be an even better one--Like I said in one of them to Jose the gardner as we were ending real discussion. He was putting me in my place
because I would not go with 'progress' and hook up to the city water. I refused to do this because it would take money away from my amigo who's
family relied on his water truck for a living. Anyway we ended that converation when I c-cked my head and said--"Wouldn't it be great if we could
invent a man with the head of a gringo and the heart of a Mexican." His response was 'yea', I gotta go back to work.'
Funny this is not in the book but a couple of years later Julia(Hulia), Kio's wife, came by the house and asked me to go on the city water because Kio
was basically only running the water truck because we were such good friends-amigo's-whatever.
It ain't the place IT IS THE PEOPLE both gringos and Mexicans and Canadians, and Aussies AND Frenchmen--a place that people can come together and
learn from and enjoy each other. And laugh a lot!
I am well into my next book and I believe I will call it "Baja, believe it or Not" that is unless someone reads this and steals the title--If that
happens we'll just think up a better one.
I get a lot of my ideas from the people on this board. Thanks to all of you. The Jefe himself has given me some ideas without even knowing ( I
think) about it.
My smidgen of a claim to fame is that I have had so many really good friends. By Bernie Swaim December 2007
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jrbaja
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4863
Registered: 2-2-2003
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Typical and wonderful
"Kio's wife, came by the house and asked me to go on the city water because Kio was basically only running the water truck because we were such good
friends-amigo's-whatever."
That's a great one Bernie. Can't wait to see the next book.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65166
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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I'm flattered!
Here is the cartoon Bernie had drawn to represent me in his book... Pretty cool Bernie, thanks mucho!
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BajaCactus
Senior Nomad
Posts: 663
Registered: 5-22-2004
Location: Km. 55, carretera transpenisular, El Rosario, B.C.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Helpful
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Great books...!!!
I am reading Bernie's boooks right now... they are very good...
If you get them you will definitely have a great time with them.
Thanks Bernie for sharing with us all of your experiencies...
Antonio M.
BajaCactus
"Where Baja is so much more than a dream..."
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