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You can check out any time you like;
But you can never leave!

After a little shopping our group next stopped at Misión Nuestra del Senora de Pilar (Mission of Our Lady of the Pillar).  I’ll show you more on this church on Wednesday, but it was important to mention it now because of these lyrics:

There she stood in the doorway
I heard the mission bell
And I was thinking to myself
‘This could be heaven or this could be Hell’

Mission bell?  Mission?  Right around the corner from, with within hearing distance of . . . The Hotel California?  Is there an Eagles connection to this mystical place after all?

Hotel California

Alas, no.  There is not.  Despite all the rumors that The Eagles once owned this place.  Other than perhaps once having been guests (unconfirmed), there is absolutely no connection between The Eagles and this hotel that dates back to 1947 . . . other than an intriguing similarity or two that applies to both the hotel and the lyrics cited above.

Hotel California on the Calle Benito Juárez (Benito Juárez Street)

Despite that, this is indeed:

Such a lovely place (such a lovely place)
Such a lovely face

Pure coincidence, I’m told.  And while the façade is indeed lovely, it doesn’t even hint at what you’re going to see inside the Hotel California.  Take a look at the front desk (where it you check out any time you like and lobby:

Front Desk, where it you check out any time you like

Hotel California lobby . . . but you can never leave!

Of course, if you have lunch here as our group did, you might never want to leave!  It was exquisite!  Too bad I didn’t get pictures, but then you’d be drooling all over your keyboard.  Here at La Coronela Restaurant & Bar we were treated to tortilla soup, guacamole, chips, and various Mexican treats such as enchiladas (link:  Coronela menu).  Lunch also included drinks, and I took the opportunity to try a new beer — a Baja Red Amber Ale.  This ale was indeed good enough to get mentioned by name in my blog.  Give it a try when you hit the Baja.  You won’t be disappointed.

Hotel California chefs at work

After lunch we meandered around the hotel, which gave me a chance to snap some fun photos:

This lamp has a lot of corazón (heart)

Hotel California

As well as a quick look at the courtyard behind the hotel:

Hotel California patio

No wonder the Hotel California is so popular with honeymooners and Baja explorers.  It’s just that fun!  I would definitely stay here for a night or two, should the chance ever present itself.  Attached to La Coronela, which is itself attached to the Hotel California, is the Emporio Hotel California.

Kitschy merchandise

Step inside here for the touristy souvenirs, including references to The Eagles and their hit album/song about Hotel California.

Emporio Hotel California — Great place of Eagles related T-Shirts and other souvenirs

One last look at the Hotel California Emporio:

Hotel California Emporium — Lots of kitschy Eagles-related