Santa Rosalia
Very early in the morning as we approached this interesting village, we were almost surrounded by a group of fin whales. Being the second largest animals on Earth after the blue whale, fin whales are extremely interesting to watch from the deck of the Sea Bird. For our pleasure all of the whale action took place just a few miles off shore from Santa Rosalia, which was our ultimate destination for the day. Although known as difficult cetaceans to be observed, the whales that we saw today really displayed many of their diagnostic characteristics for us, including the asymmetrical pigmentation on its head (clearly expressed by the white color of the “lower lip”, mouth cavity and baleen plates on the right side of the head).
All the surfacing and activities of these gigantic cetaceans lasted leisurely for several hours and was shared by a large array of marine birds. Common dolphins and a small group of bottlenose dolphins joined our “party” later in the morning.
After lunch we had a nice visit in the village of Santa Rosalia. This settlement was established in 1885, as a copper mining district. In its time, the project represented a huge challenge, but the enterprise enjoyed the benefits of the complete support of President Porfirio Diaz, who believed that this “venture business” would test favorably his economical and political concepts regarding development, as well as would help to populate the isolated Peninsula of Baja California. With many ups and downs, the company, named “El Boleo” was able to survive until 1954. Today we can enjoy the “old Porfirian times” by visiting their museum, a church that was designed in the workshop of Gustave Eifel’s Company and the exquisite Hotel Frances, where you can sit on the veranda and have an ice cold drink.
Very early in the morning as we approached this interesting village, we were almost surrounded by a group of fin whales. Being the second largest animals on Earth after the blue whale, fin whales are extremely interesting to watch from the deck of the Sea Bird. For our pleasure all of the whale action took place just a few miles off shore from Santa Rosalia, which was our ultimate destination for the day. Although known as difficult cetaceans to be observed, the whales that we saw today really displayed many of their diagnostic characteristics for us, including the asymmetrical pigmentation on its head (clearly expressed by the white color of the “lower lip”, mouth cavity and baleen plates on the right side of the head).
All the surfacing and activities of these gigantic cetaceans lasted leisurely for several hours and was shared by a large array of marine birds. Common dolphins and a small group of bottlenose dolphins joined our “party” later in the morning.
After lunch we had a nice visit in the village of Santa Rosalia. This settlement was established in 1885, as a copper mining district. In its time, the project represented a huge challenge, but the enterprise enjoyed the benefits of the complete support of President Porfirio Diaz, who believed that this “venture business” would test favorably his economical and political concepts regarding development, as well as would help to populate the isolated Peninsula of Baja California. With many ups and downs, the company, named “El Boleo” was able to survive until 1954. Today we can enjoy the “old Porfirian times” by visiting their museum, a church that was designed in the workshop of Gustave Eifel’s Company and the exquisite Hotel Frances, where you can sit on the veranda and have an ice cold drink.
