Baja Legends: The Historic Characters, Events, and Locations That Put Baja California on the Map

As a seasoned Baja traveller, having visited most of the places described in the book I found the book very interesting. This is the type of book where you can pick and choose your topic,there no need to follow page by page, chapter by chapter. The author, Greg Niemann has written another book about Baja entitled Baja Fever: Journeys into Mexico's Intriguing Peninsula, so he knows his subject, mostly from first hand experience . As stated I have visited many of the places but did not know some of the history behind the places. The history of the development of the tourist destination of Baja is very interesting and steeped in myth and legend. The authors sifts through all the information and presents a well documented account of what really happened in many instances debunkng some of the myths. The little known history of Baja is fascinating. The influence of foreign investors and old Hollywood retreats in Baja is part of the folklore that makes Baja what it is today. If you are the type of person who likes to lodge information in your brain for later recall than this book is for you. This is a great book for reference for that trip to Baja or to recall when you take friends down and pull a "did you know that...." About three fourths of the book is dedicated to the regions of Baja that are in the North, down as far as San Quintin. Central Baja south to Cabo is covered in the rest of the book. The book is recommended for the Baja traveler and community libraries.

While I found the writing style simplistic, fifth-grader-like, the book is a great guide to read as you are bumping along the Transpenisular. It highlights points of interest and trivia that make the traveler more aware of and in touch with the history of Baja. It also provides a brief overview of the pre-history and Mission history of the peninsula which are essential to an understanding how Baja evolved the way it has.

I used to live down in Baja and this book sure makes me want to go back. The author has put a lot of information--history and the like--in his book, but what really comes across is the fun he's had traveling there, especially the people he's met. He writes about all the people I remember, like Mama Espinoza and the Reyes' family, but also about places I haven't been, like down in the East Cape. Can't take a vacation yet this year--guess I'll just reread the book!