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Bajaboy
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Okay, what do you call it?
I've been travelling south of the border for 37 years now. I've always called Baja by that name not "The Baja." So, I'm curious how do you refer to
Baja.
Zac
[Edited on 6-1-2005 by Bajaboy]
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David K
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Have you ever met any Canadians there?
How about The Sahara or The Kalahari where 'Desert' is dropped from the name, because everyone knows already... also The Sudan?
The Baja for us non-Canadians is perhaps a shorter term for 'the Baja peninsula' or 'the Baja race'...
'Baja' does live well without California added to it... and I do use just 'Baja' without 'The' in front, most of the time, if not always. I did have a
license plate 'The Baja', however, in 1980 + when California increased plates to 7 characters.
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tehag
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what you call it
Baja California, and some people are rather strong on this. Baja, The Baja, and especially Baja Mexico are not appreciated by many Baja Californianos.
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David K
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Tehag, you have to admit that the word 'Baja' is used extremely heavily by locals for their business names... and not for businesses that cater just
to tourists, either...
Baja Materials, Baja Liquor, Baja Auto, etc.
When some PC types tried to change the two state names in 1974-75 to Juarez (for BC) and SudCalifornia (for BCS) they were soundly defeated...
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elgatoloco
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I use all of them. Baja , The Baja, Baja Norte, Baja Sur, The Peninsula.
To me 'The Baja' is a term of endearment I use when speaking generally about a place that I have been 'discovering' my whole life.
I was fortunate enough to hear first hand the famous author Jimmy Smith express his general distaste for the term.
We also touched on how I felt about the totally irrational and absurd misconceptation by some nitwits that the the "Real Baja" started somewhere south
of El Rosario/Catavi?a/Guerroro Negro whatever. Anyone marooon can see that it starts at the US/Mexico border.
As I recall it he agreed with me.
To each his own.
Respectfully,
elgatoloco
  
MAGA
Making Attorneys Get Attorneys
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turtleandtoad
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I've always used "on the Baja" because I thought Baja was spanish for peninsula, so "Baja California" translated to "California Peninsula".
If that's true then "Baja peninsula" would translate into "Peninsula peninsula" and the correct usage in english would be "on the Baja" as in "on the
peninsula".
Of course, as another "Spanish Impared" person I might be totally wrong about this. But I am trying to learn the language.
Mike & Robin; Full-Time RV\'ers
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www.turtleandtoad.com
I am here
To paraphrase Frank Lloyd Wright; I\'m all in favor of keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of fools. Let\'s start with keyboards. --
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Keri
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Thanks EGL
I've always used "The Baja" as an endearment also, didn't know anyone else felt that way. It makes it a kinda special place ,don't you think? I also
agree with you on the "real baja" it's everywhere: Baja is not only a place it's also a feeling. yes:k By the way, I also use Baja and Baja Sur.
[Edited on 6-1-2005 by Keri]
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Bruce R Leech
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| Quote: | Originally posted by turtleandtoad
I've always used "on the Baja" because I thought Baja was spanish for peninsula, so "Baja California" translated to "California Peninsula".
If that's true then "Baja peninsula" would translate into "Peninsula peninsula" and the correct usage in english would be "on the Baja" as in "on the
peninsula".
Of course, as another "Spanish Impared" person I might be totally wrong about this. But I am trying to learn the language. |
that would be OK if Baja meant Peninsula but it doesn't.
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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fdt
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Neither
being a Baja California native and having lived also in Baja California Sur, I as well as others call it Baja California for the northern state (#29)
and Baja California Sur for the southern state (#31). When refering to the peninsula as a hole we say la Peninsula de Baja California and even
sometimes when it's a binational type of thing and includes the US State of California we call it las Californias. Tehag is correct in saying that
calling it other names is not appreciated by the vast majority of us, but also David is correct in saying that it is used for many things as Baja
only. Where I have to dissagree is that the word Baja as in Baja auto, Baja liquor, Baja materials is "not" heavily used by locals, you have to take
in to consideration that were you find such names is mostly in heavily populated areas were the so called locals are not from Baja California, but
have made it their place of bussines and home and do not realy have any type of roots in Baja California. In the days of president Miguel de la Madrid
there was a decret forbiding the use of the name Baja alone, and the best example of that that I rememeber is the Hotel Gran Baja in La Paz, they had
to change the name, signage, advertisement, letterhead, etc. an it then read Hotel Gran Baja with the same big letters and Baja California Sur with
small print. I have in the past heard that people (natives) from places like San Francisco do not appreciate it being called frisco, and those
"native" to Las Vegas don't appreciate it being called vegas. I think that if it's easyer for you to call it just baja or the baja it is ok and most
natives will accept it comming from you guys, but were it's deffinetly not accepted is comming from a mexican, everytime I hear one call it baja or la
baja I think to myself "P-nche pocho pendejo". Finaly were we who are from Baja California get really upset is when a mexican calls it Baja California
Norte.
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wilderone
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THE Baja drives me crazy. Would you say, "I'm going to The Nevada"? Baja, California is a state. If you mean to indicate in communication that
you're traveling down the peninsula - if you want to use that term -- then use that term. But "Baja Peninsula" is a non-entity, per se. It's
descriptive only.
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bajapablo
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I like to go to Baja and sometimes I take The Wife.
\"changes it lattitudes, changes in attitudes\"
J.Buffet
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David K
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Too bad that 'Baja' needs 'California' attached for some.
Do you always ask for a 'Kleenex Tissue'... One can live without the other.
I am just having fun here... 'Baja' means lower, most of us should know.
However, 'Baja' has become so popular and well known that it alone does describe the peninsula and all the positive energy associated with it... Matt
(egl) said it quite well, above.
Don't get hung up on the technical exact translation of the word, as all the people who say Baja alone will just upset you.
Historically, the peninsula (first believed to be an island) was given the name 'California'...
When the Spanish claimed the land north of the peninsula, it was called 'Alta California'. Odd how things reversed in the 1800's... California became
Baja California and Alta California became California.
Harry Crosby likes to call the peninsula: Antigua California (Ancient California)...
'Viva la peninsula de Baja California' or 'got baja california peninsula?' are just to long for a bumper sticker, as well!!!
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Bruce R Leech
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| Quote: | Originally posted by wilderone
THE Baja drives me crazy. Would you say, "I'm going to The Nevada"? Baja, California is a state. If you mean to indicate in communication that
you're traveling down the peninsula - if you want to use that term -- then use that term. But "Baja Peninsula" is a non-entity, per se. It's
descriptive only. |
I don't use The Baja ether . but you comparison is not correct. when a person says The Baja they are referring to a Regen not a specific state. so
while the Nevada is not correct the south west is or the south or the Dakotas and so forth.
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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Keri
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Location: La Mision, Baja Norte
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Bajapablo
| Quote: | Originally posted by bajapablo
I like to go to Baja and sometimes I take The Wife. |
you are one smart dude,k
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bajalera
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I really dislike "The Baja," for no particular reason except that it sounds strange to me.
\"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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Cardon
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Baja or The Baja, either one works for me. Sadly , I'm referring to it as
Mexifornia more and more often.
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yankeeirishman
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la Peninsula de Baja California . Yeah. Yeah! I like that!
Now I will refer my hometown to: The city of Sacramento of California of United States of America. Oh hell, never mind?call it Sacto!
Time to hit Baja again...er la Peninsula de Baja California !
What control freaks there are here. Don\'t believe that post you just read!
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eetdrt88
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i go to "the baja"
everytime i get " the chance" and like bajapablo i also bring " the wife"....... and "the kids"
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wilderone
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But you wouldn't call it "the Sacto" would you?
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Gypsy Jan
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So Cal lexigraphic archiver (60's-70's-80s)
Growing up in Southern California amongst surfers and off-roaders,
amongst the phrases that were used, it was always "Baja", as in ..."going to Baja", "...got trashed in Baja", "....awesome time in Baja", etc., etc.
(I left out the others like, "I had a f****** great time in Baja.")
Just my small addition to the cultural archive.
[Edited on 6-3-2005 by Gypsy Jan]
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness.”
—Mark Twain
\"La vida es dura, el corazon es puro, y cantamos hasta la madrugada.” (Life is hard, the heart is pure and we sing until dawn.)
—Kirsty MacColl, Mambo de la Luna
\"Alea iacta est.\"
—Julius Caesar
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