Almost an Island: Travels in Baja California

Loving this book, with tales of what it was like to travel El Camino Real in Baja California in the 60s, prior to its paving, and a quirky history of what little is known about the original settlement of Baja and its conquest by the Spaniards and Jesuits (turns out the Jesuits were a lot more effective and culturally destructive). The writing gets to me a bit at times – words that seem strangely combined and long sentences that are tough to follow – but Bruce Berger’s passion for the land is clearly heartfelt.

Nice historic photos here of those days, including a great shot of what I believe is the unpaved Trans-Peninsular Highway, now known as Mexican Federal Highway No. 1.