Todos Santos Telegraph

What can be said about Mexico, about living as an expat, or expat wanna-be, that hasn’t already been said, written, or video taped?  I have a bit of an advantage in that Todos Santos, Baja Sur is relatively unsaturated.  Don’t get me wrong, there is information, albeit limited, and blogs out there.  But the sheer nature of Baja Sur finally becoming a state of Mexico  on October 8, 1974 (compared to say Jalisco, home to Puerta Vallarta, in 1823) offers a pioneer’esque visual to those that have and continue to venture down here.  That’s not to say Baja Sur doesn’t have its history stretching back 11.000 years, according to archaeological discovery.  And yes, it was raped and pillaged by the Spaniards, but that too came long after Mexico’s mainland’s personal experience.

Todos Santos, itself has a history richer than Cabo San Lucas.  An established identity outside of its’ state capital, La Paz.  And families descended from the rich and poor, revolutionaries, and sugar cane workers are here mixing with us escape artist.  All of which can be traced through a myriad of writings. “Todos Santos History” by Joe Commings can be read in its entirety and in excerpts and contemporary local hero’s (although they will cringe when the read that description) Janet Howey and Lee Moore have not only captured Todos Santos history with the written word but continued the realities of daily life here in  “The Todos Santos Book” ©2001.  In fact, as I write this, it occurs to me I should get permission from them to start publishing bits and pieces of their book here.  It is really THAT good and THAT right on.  In the mean time, you might be able to find a copy at Janet’s bookstore (an information hub despite her), El Tecolote Libros, found downtown on Calle Juarez and Hidalgo.  There are no established addresses here, although I do see a postman ride around with mail bags secured to the side of his motorcycle, so learning the street crossings is the bet bet for locating a desired destination spot.

All that said, I will only refer back 15-20 years, at the most, in the upcoming blogs.  And even that will be only to shed light on the prevailing colors Todos Santos has grown from.  I will share the Todos Santos blogs I like,  books I respect, and articles published. And let you research your own websites.  Each one offers its own slant.  I will capture the balance of town’s  natural and built infrastructure.  And somewhere in between humor myself (and hopefully you) with the anecdotal accounts of my days into years in Todos Santos.