Before getting into the theme of the big Lola Beltran Museum, I want to tell you about some stories that we lived as a family to the side of Maria Lucila Beltran Ruiz, and some more that she told us whenever she came to his beloved Rosario, that’s how she mentioned it in a lot of her concerts and some of the lots of interviews that were made to her.
The first memory that I have of aunt Lola
I was about to turn four years old, and I remember more from my childhood than I do as an adult. We were in my grandmother Carmela’s patio, which was in the center of her big house, filled with plants, and had a shower attached to the garden. My aunt sat under the shower on a bench, wearing a blue robe. She loved being surrounded by her nieces and nephews—Verónica, Aurora, Gustavo, Juan Guillermo—and holding my baby brother Roberto, who was just a few months old. My grandmother and I were sitting nearby. We spent hours playing under the water from the patio shower.
My aunt would fill trays with water and splash us. Those were special moments because, although we admired her as a famous artist, we loved seeing that warm, playful side of her. Spending time with Aunt Lola was always a joy.
One morning, at five o’clock, José Quintín, who was staying in my room, heard a soft knock on the door. It kept getting louder until it woke us up. He told me to check who it was, but I was too scared because it was still dark. Someone had to do it, though, so I went. When I asked who it was, there was only silence. Gathering courage, I slowly opened the door, and I got the fright of my life: a woman, draped in a white sheet, with her face painted red to look like blood, stood there. I screamed and ran back to the bed, and then my aunt burst out laughing, shouting, “Wake up, everyone! We’re going to the beach!”
Caimanero Beach
Whenever Aunt Lola visited Rosario, she always woke up early, eager to enjoy the day. At Caimanero Beach, we’d go to a small shelter with hammocks where she would rest while they prepared grilled fish for us.
By the way, the best and most affordable grilled fish can be found at Caimanero Beach in Rosario.
After lunch, we’d play baseball with our cousins, and Aunt Lola would watch from the hammock. She surprised us once by saying, “I’ll play too!” She picked up the bat (which was just a stick we found) and hit the ball hard. We threw it to her using the local “culito de gallina” style, and she hit it every time, running all the bases. We never got her out.
Later, we’d walk along the shore, making shapes in the sand with the sticks washed up by the waves. Aunt Lola would stay by the water until sunset, saying that raising her arms at that moment filled her with energy. As soon as the sun disappeared, she would whistle loudly to call us back, and we’d return to Rosario.
After the beach, we would all pile into the car for a drive around town. Even though there were a lot of us, she liked everyone to squeeze into the same car. She sat in the front, recalling the families who lived in each house as we passed by. I think she did this so she would never forget the people of Rosario, who she loved so much.
I could tell many more stories like this, but I’ll stop here and return to the topic of the museum.
Lola Beltrán Museum
The house where some of Lola Beltrán’s belongings are kept was built between 1815 and 1820 by Ignacio Fletes. It was home to the great-grandparents of Horacio Llamas Grey, the first Mexican basketball player to join the NBA.
The house was bought in 1998 through the efforts of her daughter, María Elena, and the support of Governor Renato Vega Alvarado. The project was completed in 2000 under Governor Juan S. Millán, and the museum was inaugurated the same year.
In the museum, you’ll find her concert outfits, makeup items, photographs, and a biography of her life. It’s a place you’ll surely enjoy, and when you step into the house’s patio, surrounded by beautiful gardens, you’ll feel a sense of peace. You’ll also have a view of the ruins of the old temple where both Pedro Infante and Lola Beltrán were baptized.
Text: Lic. Mario Alberto Tirado Rodríguez
Turism Director of El Rosario
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Our photos have “Creative Commons“ license. This license allows you to use our photos, without needing permission, legally. When using the photos, the only requirement is that you provide credit as follows:
“Photography: Miguel Angel Victoria / Sinaloa 360”
English translation made by Alan Moreno López, student at PrepaTec Campus Sinaloa. Tecnológico de Monterrey.