Santa Rosalia was a copper mining town in the 19th century, run by a French company, Campagne du Boleo. The French brought their culture to Mexico…buildings were constructed of wood, the church designed by Gustav Eiffel, the bakery offered French breads.
Today, the primary industry is fishing, a little copper smelting, some tourism. It is a dusty town, one legacy of the mines, and there is much debris in corners and abandoned buildings. Even in the center of town, where shops and restaurants are vibrant and well-stocked, the century-old wooden buildings give an air of gentile dilapidation; it feels a bit like New Orleans’ French Quarter—without the jazz. Santa Rosalia has a very different flavor from other Mexican towns, and it has been good to get to know a little about some of the people who live and work here.
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