Leonard Knight's Salvation Mountain In Niland, California

One of the more amazing places we have been over the years is Salvation Mountain, 

built by Leonard Knight not far from the south eastern shore of the Salton Sea

just outside the town of Niland, California.

Allison had been wanting to go there for quite a while 

and this winter we had the opportunity to see this part of the world,

and she provided the photos for this post.

Onyx Steps In Catavina, Baja California

In the long lonely drive south from El Rosario, Baja California 

to Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur lies a magical land around the town of Cataviña

populated by boulders and cactus.

Wood Fired Ovens In Baja California Sur

Here are some more examples of wood fired ovens, or hornos,

 that we found while traveling in Baja California Sur.

To see more check out LABELS-ELEMENTS on the right side bar

 and click on Kilns And Hornos.

Above is the horno at Ricardo's Rice and Beans Hotel, Restaurant, and RV Park

in San Ignacio.

Bamboo Mat Shed With A Palm Thatch Roof In Mulege, B.C.S.

I ended the last post, which was on small homes in Mulege, Baja California Sur,

with the above photo and now let's see how to build the shed.

Small Homes In Mulege, Baja California Sur

With the small house movement getting so much well deserved interest,

 I thought it would be interesting to show some examples

 we saw in Mulege, B.C.S. at

 the Huerta Don Chano RV Park and Campground

 that were built for Canadian and American retirees.

Old Adobe Buildings In San Ignacio, Baja California Sur

This is the last post on San Ignacio, B.C.S. 

and this time we will look at old adobe houses, mostly in ruins.

The previous post shows some adobes still being used:

Architectural Tour Of San Ignacio, Baja California Sur.

Sadly, I saw no current building with adobe, 

having been supplanted first by fired clay bricks 

and now almost all new construction is cement block. 

As I mentioned in the last post, 

if one had the choice of spending a hot summer in a cool adobe

 or a hot cement block house, 

it seems the choice would be obvious. Hmmm?

In the above well built wall, 

the coursing shows the bricks are laid crosswise for a wider wall.

Architectural Tour Of San Ignacio, Baja California Sur

One of the more interesting towns in Baja California Sur

 is the date palm oasis of San Ignacio,

which lies near the center of Baja both north-south and east-west.

Because it is on neither the Pacific or the Sea of Cortez,

 it has missed some of the tourist development that has centered along the coasts.

The springs that provide the water in this small valley have created a lush environment 

and an obvious place to locate a town in the otherwise harsh desert.

The large building in the center of the above photo is the mission

 which I covered in the previous three posts:

The Mission Church Of San Ignacio De Loyola In Baja California Sur,

More On The Mission Church Of San Ignacio De Loyola In Baja California Sur,

and Doors And Windows At The Mission Of San Ignacio De Loyola In Baja California Sur.

Doors And Windows At The Mission Of San Ignacio De Loyola In Baja California Sur

In this third post on the Mission Church of San Ignacio de Loyola 

in San Ignacio, B.C.S. we take a look at the windows and doors.

To see the front door of the church go to the first post on the mission:

The Mission Church Of San Ignacio De Loyola In Baja California Sur:

and for another look at the exterior along the nave:

More On The Mission Church Of San Ignacio De Loyola In Baja California Sur.

More On The Mission Church Of San Ignacio De Loyola In Baja California Sur

In the previous post,

The Mission Church Of San Ignacio De Loyola In Baja California Sur,

 we looked at the front and the inside of

the Mission of San Ignacio De Loyola.

The next and last post on the mission will be:

Doors And Windows At The Mission Of San Ignacio De Loyola In Baja California Sur.

Now let's go around to the side to look at some more details.

The Mission Church Of San Ignacio De Loyola In Baja California Sur

One of the more interesting towns in Baja California Sur

 is the date palm oasis of San Ignacio,

which lies near the center of Baja both north-south and east-west.

Because it is on neither the Pacific or the Sea of Cortez,

 it has missed some of the tourist development that has centered along the coasts.

The springs that provide the water in this small valley 

have created a lush environment in the midst of a harsh desert,

and an obvious place to locate a mission.

Anthony Shadid's House Of Stone In Marjayoun, Lebanon

I recently became aware of a set of videos to accompany the new book House of Stone

by the recently departed Anthony Shadid,

which follows his remodeling of the family home in Marjayoun, Lebanon.

To see the whole set click on House of Stone Video Chapters 1-10.

The separate chapters are:

Chapter 1- 3:56 min.- Returning Home,

Chapter 2- 3:41 min.- Excavation,

Chapter 3- 4:05- Revealing Scars,

Chapter 4- 4:07min.- The Tiles,

Chapter 5- 4:49 min.- Renewal,

Chapter 6- 3:52- The Symphony,

Chapter 7- 4:35 min.- A New Identity,

Chapter 8- 3:15min- The Garden,

Chapter 9- 4:31 min.- Surrender and Reinvent,

Chapter 10- 5:29 min.- The End.

(In the above list I cannot find Chapter 3 as a separate video

 but it does show up in the Chapters 1-10 link.)

Anthony Shadid, an American by birth, 

was a Middle East journalist who died tragically last month,

of of an acute asthma attack while on assignment.

These videos provide a fascinating look at the remodeling process

that he goes through in bringing back the family home

 after years of abandonment.

I have not read the book but it looks good.

Enjoy.

The Home And Art Of Maria Eggleston In Mulege, B.C.S., Part 4

In this last post on the home and art of the mosaic artist,

Maria Eggleston of Mulege, Baja California Sur,

let's look at her wonderful cactus gardens.

The Home And Art Of Maria Eggleston In Mulege, B.C.S., Part 3

In this third post on the home and art of Maria Eggleston 

let's start with how she lays out her work.

The piece above is a bit smaller and has a frame of seashells.

The Home And Art of Maria Eggleston In Mulege, B.C.S., Part 2

Let's continue with our look at the art of Maria Eggleston 

using cut glass, seashells, and other found objects set in a cement base.

The detail above is from a piece that is shown near the bottom below.

N.Y.Times Article Updates Arcosanti

Allison saw an article in the New York Times the other day

 on Paulo Soleri and Arcosanti,

(from which the above photo is taken).

The article, An Early Eco City Faces the Future, 

discusses the handing off of the reigns from Soleri to Jeff Stein as president

 of the parent Cosanti Foundation,

and includes a good slideshow.

This is a big shift for Arcosanti, 

which represents both alternative building and lifestyle,

take a look and let's wish them luck.

For more on my posts on Soleri, Arcosanti, and Cosanti

please click on Paulo Soleri under LABELS on the right side bar.

In the next post we will get back to Maria Eggleston.