expat2B
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Guidebook recommendations?
So far, I've purchased and read the Moon (Joe Cummings) Baja Guidebook and the AAA guidebook. To you veteran nomads, are there any others out there
that you would recommend? (FWIW, I love the early chapters in the Moon guide that discuss Baja history, culture, customs, etc.). TIA.
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BajaNomad
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The Cummings book is the most informative - and updated - of it's type for travelers. There's a new edition as of October 2004:
http://tienda.bajanomad.com/cgi-bin/tienda.cgi?item_id=15669...
If you're looking for other books of this same type, the Lonely Planet guide is similar in type, but is now 3+ years old.
Maybe there are certain specific areas/cities/activities that are most appealing to you for information, and another book might exist for such, but
you'd need to clarify which of those things - if any - is of most interest to you.
Regards,
--
Doug Means
[Edited on 12-22-2004 by BajaNomad]
When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.
– Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
We know we must go back if we live, and we don`t know why.
– John Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
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David K
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If you are not affraid to leave sight of the pavement or graded roads, then get 'The Baja Adventure Book' by Walt Peterson 3rd edition c1998/2000.
Also, a handy guide to south/central Baja is 'Backroad Baja' by Patti and Tom Higginbotham c1996
For a historic reference guide to Baja in the 1950's and 60's, as well as excellent historic details, obtain a copy of the 'Lower California
Guidebook' by Peter Gerhard and Howard Gulick 4th edition c1967/1970 on the used or rare book sources on the Internet, such as AddAll.com.
Because there is no complete guide to all of Baja's back country roads, today... get the 'Baja Almanac' map book and a GPS to go exploring and make
notes as to what you find!
When you come to a fork in the road, take it!
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bajalera
Super Nomad
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Right on, DK! That list covers about everything anybody needs to know.
Lee
\"Very few things happen at the right time, and the rest never happen at all. The conscientious historian will correct these defects.\" -
Mark Twain
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BajaVida
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most can get by with AAA book and map and Baja Adventure Book
No se apure y dure.
Don\'t hurry and you\'ll last longer.
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Bruce R Leech
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not really I would recommend everything above, and put AAA at the bottom of the list it has some good info but it is hopelessly out of date. and many
wrong turns.
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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bajajudy
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Ok this is blatant commericialism but I do sell books and I am not a bad person to try to help this person(and myself) out.
We have all of the above mentioned books. Our Moon is Fall 2004, our AAA is 2004 and our Baja Adventure Guide is 3rd Edition. The new AAA seems to
be good and is certainly up to date. Cummings Moon is probably the best of the big names.
No matter which you decide on, be flexible on the content. Things change pretty fast sometimes here in manana land.
Happy Trails
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David K
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bruce R Leech
not really I would recommend everything above, and put AAA at the bottom of the list it has some good info but it is hopelessly out of date. and many
wrong turns. |
Hi Bruce, the latest AAA (Auto Club of So. Calif.) Baja guide is brand new, 2004. The author David Brackney was a guest on Baja Talk Radio a few weeks
ago, check it out... This guide is thick (540 pages), too!
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expat2B
Junior Nomad
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Great tips, folks - an order will be placed with "Santa" shortly. At present, exploring small villages and historical sites is a primary interest.
For example, on our last trip, we really wanted to visit La Purisima and Comondu but were a bit reluctant to do so from the east in our rental car
(the ground clearance on those Nissan Platinas isn't too hot). David, thanks for the tips re maps - do you know of any good sources for detailed
aerial photographs (along the liones of the USDA/USGS stero pairs we have here in the E.U.)? Recuerdos.
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bajajudy
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Unless the Baja 1000 cleared it out, do not approach Comondu from the east. We did it last November and it took us 3 hours to go 45 k in a Jeep
Cherokee, white knuckled 50% of the time.
However, do go there. It is breathtakingly beautiful and the people are really nice. There is a lady who makes baskets there that are different from
any I have seen in Baja. That is my passion...baskets.
There are also cave paintings there but it would be hard to say if they were worth the walk. Pretty faded and some looked a little hokey.....hearts?
I have never seen a heart shape in a a cave painting before. Be sure to tell the guide that you do not want to take some home. Ours was just
getting ready to do some chipping before I caught him and told him NO GRACIAS.
Oh take food. Unless you want hot dogs every night.
Buen viaje!
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expat2B
Junior Nomad
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Judy, que aventura! Thanks for the account of your trip to Comondu - it sounds delightful and just the sort of exploration we had in mind. For now,
the approach from the west or north (San Isidro side) may be best unless we get a more robust set of wheels. As the descendent of a bookseller, I
appreciated the link to your web site and will check it out shortly.
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bajajudy
Elite Nomad
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expat2b
i should have told you that our trip originated from san javier. other routes might be more passable
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David K
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In the Baja Nomad Historic Interests and Literature Forum, I have many guidebooks pictured starting at: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=5604
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expat2B
Junior Nomad
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David, sorry, I overlooked your several guidebook posts in the other forum. The Gehard & Gulick series sound fascinating. Thanks for sharing. I'm off
to a geography-themed book store later today to see what I can dig up.
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David K
Honored Nomad
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oooooooh That sounds cool! Where is a 'geography themed book store'?
There used to be one in Solana Beach (Lomas Santa Fe), I met Graham Macintosh there at his slide show July 12, 1990. I can remember that date because
my daughter was born the next day!
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