Miraculous Air: Journey of a Thousand Miles Through Baja California, the Other Mexico

This book is a series of real-life stories as experienced by the author over the course of about 5 years travel throughout Baja California. The stories paint a fascinating picture of many facets of life in Baja, both contemporary and historical. Ms. Mayo's writing style is also painterly - the words are pared to only the essential needed to convey the picture. The result is an extremely well-crafted book that is pure pleasure to read. Read this book if you are interested in Baja, or plan to travel there - it's one of the very best.

God, what a read! Like a novel, almost, full of surprises and little historical bits that will enrich your visit to Baja beyond measure... it was my first visit to Mexico, in 1957, and reading this book takes me back to my childhood visions of a place where the air is miraculous, the sand clean and white, the people like brothers and sisters. Read this book in the teeth of winter, to survive the snowbound months. And if you want to give someone a gift when they're Baja-bound, give them this book. Truly a miraculous treasure.

Miraculous Air is an evocative and superbly written travelogue by C. M. Mayo and her travels across Baja California, also known as "the other Mexico." The title is a nod to the famous classic author John Steinbeck, who wrote "The very air here is miraculous and outlines of reality change with the moment"; and Miraculous Air does indeed reveal an eclectic and exciting land, showcasing the people who truly live up to those words. Miraculous Air is very highly recommended reading, especially for armchair travelers, as well as anyone thinking of traversing the very special California peninsula known a Baja!

Mayo has scored a literary triumph with her vivid portrayal of Baja California. From the border city of Tijuana to the rock arch at Cabo San Lucas, she peels back the secrets of this 900 mile long peninsula as she ventures into the desert wilderness.Mayo brings you into the cockpit of the first plane to land in Los Cabos, revels in the intriguing history of the Jesuit missionaries, treats you to the art and food of Todos Santos and takes you to a lagoon where the "baseball size" eye of a grey whale rotates to watch you. Mayo has the rare ability to make you think that it is you who sees the people, tastes the food, looks deep into the mouth of a whale or flies the "Loopy Loop" in the first plane to land in Los Cabos."Miraculous Air" sets a new standard for the art of a "Literary Travel Book" for she brings the diverse characters of the region to life. A sturdy mountain guide, burro in tow, takes her deep into the mountains to see the massive cave paintings that may be older than ancient Persia. His vast knowledge of the area's other cave drawings gives a sense of discovery to her travels. His world is the wilderness. This man, who has to walk for 5 days to see a doctor, asks Mayo, "Is the runway at Los Angeles paved yet?"Mayo's "Miraculous Air" is a treasured gift to the armchair traveler. It is a feast for the heart, the body, the mind, and the soul. Magnificent!

If you are a confirmed Baja buff or just want a great read about a special place or if you want to learn something about not just Baja but about what makes Mexico and Mexicans so unique, this book will enchant you.