Mulegé, Mexico

This is Mulegé.

In 1705, Father Joan De Ugarte S.J. built the second oldest mission here. Today they still have Mass, and it is unchanged. Mulegé still holds native charm. They are happy, hospitable, gay-hearted, non-ulcered people with a commonsense attitude that is amazing.

They have learned to live with each other, raising their own cow or goat for milk, their corn for tortillas, their pigs for meat, and their garden for vegetables. If there is a sickness, everyone in the areas will pitch in and help this individual.

Their manners are flawless and their courtesy the same. The entire population, from the newborn to the old, have a continued gay smile on their faces. There is never a trace of jealousy as they have learned to accept life through the grace of God whether it be good or bad.

This land of enchantment thrives with God's gifts of teaming schools of fish, lobsters, clams, scallops, turtles, and shrimp, and game birds such as doves, quail, and ducks, not to mention deer and mountain sheep.

The islands surrounding the area, let alone Mulegé itself, are "museum pieces," quoted by Peterson, world-known author and authority on bird life, and here only has he found this. The thousands of gannets, pelicans, osprey, man-of-war birds, etc., nesting on these islands unmolested by man proves this.

The swaying palms, the quietness, the ever-changing reflections of the moon and the sun on the waters, the phosphorous at night that streams off the end of your paddle like stardust, the beautiful untouched shell beaches, the crystal-clear water in it ever-changing colors, the beautiful coloration of the sun and the moon cast through different clouds, formations too beautiful to describe. Not to mention the amazing sea world under.

The voice of a happy native singing at a distance, followed by the braying of a burro across the river, the slap of the water on a native sailing canoe, the kerplunk of fish jumping in the river, and the call of quail in a nearby arroyo. This is Mulegé. —by Lou Federico