March 29, 2016 – It is with great sadness that I learned this morning that my Mexican Brother passed away suddenly yesterday. I have copied the Blog I published 3 years ago about Antonio and the Resendiz family and the life changing impact this relationship has had on our family. From the day we met Antonio in 1985 his passion, zest for life, and enthusiasm to embrace others was obvious and profound. And when we reconnected again years later it was like there never was any break in time at all. Antonio was now married to Bety, and had two wonderful children, teenagers by then, Antonio Jr and Alejandra. As the years past and we started Baja Amigos we always looked forward to every visit in Bahia de Los Angeles where Antonio and Bety would meet with our groups sometimes where we were camping, other times they would host our group in their house, they would always remember listening to Antonio’s view of the world including unfolding events. Antonio always wore his opinions and beliefs on his sleeve, but also always eager to learn about the experiences of other from across the world that ended up at Campo Archelon, something Antonio and Bety created together.
Words really cannot express our sadness and shock of learning of his death, it is nothing less then traumatic. Our sincere condolences and deepest sympathies go out to Bety, Antonio Jr., Alejandra and the entire Resendiz family. Antonio was many things including a loving husband and father, he was also true ambassador for not just Bahia, but also Baja and Mexico.
Adios mi amigo! You will be missed by all.
August 26, 2013 – 28 years ago we were making our preparations for a family adventure of a lifetime. We were headed for unchartered territory filled with trepidation, some anxiety and seeking new frontiers. We had sold our house in Burnaby where we had resided for 6 years, a house formerly owned by my grandparents, Sid & Ethel Goy and were now heading for Mexico. We had originally hatched this adventure with our long time friends from Pender Harbour, Roland and Liz. They had been in Mexico years before and had longed to return. They had wonderful stories about a carefree life on the cheap, meeting lots of new people, very friendly locals and no end to sunshine and warm weather.
Lisa and I had started our family, purchased a house, were forced to sell the house do to exorbitant interest rates and chronic unemployment as the construction industry had collapsed. We desperately need a change. The original plan saw us travelling to Mexico in 2 Vans with our children, Daniel and Emily were the same age as our kids, 2 and 4 years old. We were comforted that Roland and Liz had the experience, as were our families. As we got closer to our departure date it became apparent they were not going to make the journey, casting caution aside we decided to go it alone. Our parents were apoplectic, they were convinced we would be murdered and our children would be kidnapped.
Ironically we left in Mid-October, the same time frame of we leave every year to begin the 45 Day tour which commences November 1 of each fall. We made our first real connection and bond with Mexico in Bahia de Los Angeles where we met Antonio Resendiz. Antonio was a marine biologist from Mexico City who started a Sea Turtle Project at an abandoned government RV Park where we landed for a few days. We got to know Antonio, a local family fishing and working with Antonio and El Toro, the resident fisherman from San Diego. Who would know that our week in Bahia where we fell hook, line and sinker for Mexico and Baja would set us the path to Baja Amigos, but it did. Antonio said he was returning to Mexico City for Christmas and that we should join him. He assured us his family would be happy to see us, so we set our sites on Mexico City for Xmas.
2 months, a ferry across the Sea of Cortez and a few thousand kilometers later we arrived at Antonio’s parents house in Coyocan, a district in Mexico, City. We did so much; saw so much, we were treated so well, just like family. Antonio’s parents, Antonio Sr. and Estela were wonderful hosts, taking us in as if we were relatives from out of town and treated our kids like their own grandchildren. 
Christmas is a special time in Mexico and celebrated over many days, we were included in everything at all the family functions. We did eventually leave the hospitality of the Resendiz family in the New Year, with memories that we continued to relish for a lifetime. Years later we re-connected with Antonio, again Bahia, meeting Bety, their children, and other family members.
Now we have come full circle, Antonio’s niece and Antonio Sr. & Estela’s granddaughter, Estela, arrived in July and is staying with us while going to school in Vancouver. We are glad we could help out, have her stay with us and show her around, Estela is a real pleasure and a wonderful young women. We look forward to our return to Baja and reconnecting with Antonio & Bety in Bahia and look forward to our return to Mexico City and visiting with other Resendiz family members in the future.
Did you know?
The noble Spanish surname Resendiz is of patronymic origin and derives from the Visigothic personal name “Resendo”. The personal name “Resendo” is a name composed of Germanic elements meaning counsel or advisor. This Spanish name Resendiz was first found in the ancient and powerful kingdom of Castillo, along the western shore of the Iberian peninsula. Some of the first settlers of this family name settled along the eastern shore of North America and Central and South America.
