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lesd
Junior Nomad
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San Ignacio festival at end of July ?
I have seen references to a cultural event/festival in San Ignacio at the last weekend of July, which for 2010 looks like the weekend of the 31'st.
Does anyone here know what this event may be like ? I'm a photographer and like events with people doing 'something'. I want to plan my truck camper
road trip to be there, if it is indeed happening.
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Bajame
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Will the dates and get back with you.
We all want a peaceful world, filled with love and laughter, but we fill ourselves with anger and hate trying to fiqure out how to achive it.
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David K
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Yup, date festival (carnival) was going on in when we arrived on our 2007, late July trip and the place is a mad house! We left after a brief visit of
the mission and museum.
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shari
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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hi Les and a big group hug for ya to welcome you to Nomadlandia!!
San Ignacio Fiestas are fun...but it's very hot and buggy so you'll be jumping in the river alot.
You are bound to catch more fiestas around that time. Almost each village has a fiesta in the summer that last 3-5 days and have similar events like
horse racing, rodeo, queen crowning, fokloric dancing, car races, midway, beach events or sporting events, dances every night to live music etc. they
are very colourful to photograph indeed and fun to attend...very festive.
Our fiestas in Asuncion are Aug.13-16
check your U2U box up in the right hand corner of the screen.
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Bajatripper
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| Quote: | Originally posted by lesd
I have seen references to a cultural event/festival in San Ignacio at the last weekend of July, which for 2010 looks like the weekend of the 31'st.
Does anyone here know what this event may be like ? I'm a photographer and like events with people doing 'something'. I want to plan my truck camper
road trip to be there, if it is indeed happening. |
The San Ignacio Fiesta is held each year to honor the town's patron Saint, San Ignacio.
While dates were an important commercial crop in the city's past, that is no longer the case. The dates they now sell in town are mostly grown a few
miles out of town at some ejidos, so I wouldn't expect to find too many date-related events to photograph.
Instead:
During the festivities, they parade the town's statue of the saint around town with half the town following the procession.
At night, the town plaza is packed with food and beer vendors. Travelling caravans from throughout Mexico also show up to sell their wares. There is
also a "feria," or mechanical rides and all of those games of stand-up-the-bottle, throw the dart, roll the marble, shoot the bb, etc. that accompany
them.
While daytime temps can be pretty hot, nights usually cool off to an acceptable level that don't require a/c.
If you want to be in the center of the action--as I would think any photographer would want to be--might I suggest Casa Leree? It is the oldest
"hotel" in town, just a short block from the plaza. The place has been tastefully updated and is currently owned/managed by Juanita, a resident
American who is well-versed in the town's history and traditions. Several years ago, she started a project to conserve the town's photographic and
oral histories and has a great collection of old photographs she gives anyone access to. You might want to figure out a way to make reservations since
the modestly-priced places fill up fast.
[Edited on 7-11-2010 by Bajatripper]
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bajajudy
Elite Nomad
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Location: San Jose del Cabo,BCS
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Saint Ignacio and I share the same birthday...July 31
I would suggest the yurts if they have room. Floating in front of the place is the perfect way to enjoy the heat. We went one year to celebrate my
b'day and spent most of the time in the water. You could hear the music from the baseball field. Nothing really starts until 10pm, so we missed most
of that stuff since after a full day of over 100degrees we were not awake at 10.
It is a terrific local festival. You will see dates in every form imaginable.
Have fun
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lesd
Junior Nomad
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sounds fun!
This sounds great! I have read about the place on the water with the yurts, and would like to check it out. They have some camping spots as well,
where I can park my truck camper. How far is that from where all the mechanical rides and other night activity happens ? I have a dirt bike I can get
around on, but I don't want to push my luck with a non street registered bike around town, as it might look too Gringo or something. I am super keen
on night time festival photography, so this all sounds wonderful !
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bajajudy
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http://www.ignaciosprings.com/main.html
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Bajatripper
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The two times I was there for the fiesta, the mechanical rides were just past the mission. It's perhaps 3/4 of a mile from where the yurts are to
town, if that. There's a fair sidewalk most of the way, and the scenery is pleasant. But you won't be seeing too much along there at night. If you
stay at the San Ignacio Springs (the yurts), they include a pretty decent breakfast to get you started on your day.
Good photos are to be had during the day by climbing up onto the mesa overlooking the town. Just look for the cement water storage tank overlooking
the town and follow the trail up. If you take your vehicle out on the road to the Pacific Coast and turn off when you get to the town dump (left side
of the road) and follow the road through the dump, you'll eventually come to a real nice view of the river and the highway beyond, with all of the
palms to fill in the scene. On the way, you'll drive through what is left of an old American airbase that was in use during WWII, if I remember
correctly.
Even if you don't stay at Casa Leree, I would recommend that you stop by and chat with Juanita. She might give you some valuable insight that you
would otherwise miss. She also has maps of some of the trails in the region she gives away.
[Edited on 7-31-2010 by Bajatripper]
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bajajudy
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajatripper
Even if you don't stay at Casa Leree, I would recommend that you stop by and chat with Juanita. She might give you some valuable insight that you
would otherwise miss. She also has maps of some of the trails in the region she gives away. |
I couldnt agree with you more. A trip to San Ignacio without stopping in her place is unthinkable. Her rooms are nice and shady if she has any
available, which I doubt.
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Juanita
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Location: San Ignacio, Baja California Sur
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Fiesta Time in San Ignacio
This was posted earlier and I am moving it into the appropriate thread, thanks to Steve's help. Tonight is the opening ceremony of the fiesta.
We are approaching the high point of the year in San Ignacio when for the last five days of the month we step aside from routine work and celebrate
with family and friends. Everyone is already busy cleaning and repairing and good work has been done on that old crumbling adobe wall across from the
mission.
Although Saint Ignacius of Loyola died on July 31st, processions for the saint begin nine days beforehand, with each neighborhood taking turns
carrying the saint around the plaza, singing special songs heard rarely through the year. The traveling kiosks begin to arrive slowly and set up
their display around the plaza. Then at night they let down the canvas sides and sleep inside.
The fiesta itself begins on July 27th. The children help me carry out the panels of old photos for display in the plaza each day. We have six new
panels this year, with many new pictures from the ranches and the Pacific coast fishing communities. Then in the evening when the last light fades we
remove the panels and the bands begin to warm up. Dancing in the plaza continues throughout the night for four nights, with the most expensive band
on the last two nights. For a small sum you can rent a table around the plaza for your friends and family and have your beverages and food handy.
When a couple first begins to dance, they will be approached to pay a fee for the evening, for the band.
The last, much longer procession on the 31st is the culmination. It takes place in the middle of the day and for the last few years has been let by
the Matachine dancers from Santa Rosalia. They are Yaqui Indians and dance with great devotion for the saint. They do not accept tips. The
procession pauses at the doors of the elderly, so they can be helped out to worship Saint Ignacius. The cabalgata of 100 and more horses joins the
procession, after riding all morning from a place about 10 km distant.
Bright pieces of colored paper are released from the mission rooftop and flutter in the air as the procession returns to the mission, and all the
bells are clanged at once by people whacking them directly up in the belfry, making a great cacophony. The saint is placed in front of the great
doors. Then all the horses form up in the street to do honor to the saint and two brothers, who love to make people laugh, perform for a moment and
the dancing horse shows its steps. The Matachine dancers lead the saint into the nave of the mission by the north side door and the singing
continues. Thus, the Fiestas Tradicionales de San Ignacio, which I am looking forward to very much.
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bajajudy
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Juanita
Thanks for the update
Y'all have fun ya hear!
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shari
Select Nomad
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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Lots of people from our village heading over to San Ignacio this weekend for the Fiestas...have a great time everyone and please be safe!!!
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SK-1
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San Ignacio road trip
Hey Lesd,
I am headed down to San Ignacio this Friday July 30, We can possibly caravan down together depending on where you are located and if you can make it
on the 30th. I will be coming throught he San Diego/San Ysidro crossing early morning,
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Pescador
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I was there for the opening festivities and it was wonderful. This year they decided that they would add Mariachi music and the musicians were
wonderful One group is from La Paz and the other group came all the way from Tijuana. All of the music is at the plaza which is directly across from
the church while the carnival rides are by the lagoon and east of the plaza. There are numerous parking lots and they are attended by the owners so
your car should be pretty safe. It was at least 10-15 degrees cooler than Santa Rosalia and one needed a light jacket or at least jeans and a long
sleeved shirt to be comfortable. The parade of queens was very nice and they had two girls from Asuncion, one from La Bocana, and one from San
Ignacio. The plaza is surrounded by vendors, taco stands, a great pizza stand, as well as two mixed drink vendors, and of course the big Tecate tent.
If you are in the area, you may want to make sure to attend as things can only get better as it progresses toward the weekend.
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Eli
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Although it was 47 years ago when I attended the festival in San Ignacio, I vote if you have a chance to do it, GO !
Must say that summer, being 13, staying at Casa Leree with Dona Beca, Dona Maria Y Dona Chela, attending Bequita's wedding, the dances behind
Hercilia's store, Dad's typewriter set up under the grape arbor at Casa Leree, Promanading around the town square, falling in love for the first time,
being chased by a turkey on the way to the outhouse at Casa Leree, oh my these memories are fresh and sweet, I wouldn't trade them for anything.
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Paula
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Next year we have to time our trip north to make the festival!
Sara, although I'm sure that things have changed over time, your story is inspiring. And maybe Casa Leree has changed in some ways, but it is still
the gateway to the past-- as close as we may ever come to seeing what we missed. To me it is heaven on earth!
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Eli
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I expect you are right on it when you say that Casa Leree has changed, (I know I certainly have), but at the same time retains something of times gone
by, (I hope, I hope).
Although I seriously doubt that I will ever make the festival again, ( it is way to hot for me in July), I know I am never going to be the Bell of the
Ball again, or dance all night (not even), or dance the first dance in my Papa's arms unless it is in my dreams. The memories are good, good, good.
Good enough!
Still, some winter I hope to make it over to the Lagoon to visit the whales and for sure spend a night or two at Casa Leree. Is the grape arbor still
there? I would Love to sit under that grape arbor. I am sure the outhouse is gone, as is the turkey was tamales years ago. And well, Beca, Maria &
Chela, I hope they have gone off into the white light, but it should would be nice if something of their spirits where there, along with Don Jimmy's,
(it was after all his favorite place of all), a well they are in my heart and that is most certainly plenty good enough.
[Edited on 7-29-2010 by Eli]
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shari
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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thanks so much Eli for your wonderful memories of this special place. I feel the same way you do about the sweet memories of the past...i have a hard
time letting go....I still have my outhouse for old times sake and it sure comes in handy when there is no water or when borachos are around!!!
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Eli
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For sure, Hold on to your memories Shari, cherish them, savor them, they are one of our greatest gifts for being human, what we were has so much to do
with who we now are, at least this is what I believe.
Also, good idea to keep the outhouse, for the obvious reasons you stated above!
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