Border Crossing San Diego to Tijuana: Day 1
Nov 16
We got a late start, and by the time we were ready to cross the border, it was noon. We left San Diego and headed for Tijuana. Crossing San Diego to Tijuana…
Signs along the side of the road as we neared the border said, ‘Guns are Illegal in Mexico,’ and ‘Medical Marijuana is Illegal in Mexico.’ At the border, I saw the sign that Fatty and I mostly missed the last time I did this, 14 years ago, which said, ‘Last US Exit.’ He and I ended up in Tijuana with my car over it last time. It was an accident. That was a stress-mess. Signs in Mexico then told us, ‘It is not illegal to drive in Mexico without Mexican insurance, it is a felony.’ That sure scared a couple of green farm-boys form Big Beaver, Saskatchewan, who struggled to get back to the US to park and walk back to Tijuana. This time however, the cross was planned. Kristen and I cruised through the border.
Now, just as it was 14 years ago, you do not actually have to stop. You just drive, you do not have to talk to anyone, and then all of a sudden you are in Mexico. Going back to the US is nothing like that at all. It is line-ups and searches. But going to Mexico is a breeze. Boom! You are in Mexico.
That grey…that is the wall between Mexico and the United States
We parked Kristen’s Land Rover and I walked back to the US immigration office to give them back a paper I had for a visa. Then we voluntarily went to Mexican immigration to buy $20 visas that will allow us 180 days in the country.
Kristen has two dogs with her and she had to get full medical certificates for each. She was given 10 days of leeway to get the dogs into Mexico, the time after which the certificates would expire. Were they necessary for entry into Mexico? Probably. Did anyone ask for them after we declared the pooches? Nope!
And get this, because we drove through and then walked back, our bags were in the car already in Mexico. So, did we have to declare anything? Nope. Bag screenings? Nope. Questions about time-frame in Mexico? Nope. Funds or currency? Nope!
I love you Mexico. Thanks for leaving us alone to just be regular people.
We could see the huge wall between San Diego and Tijuana as we hit the Baja California, freeway to Mexico. Fourteen years ago, a Saturday night in Tijuana was the best night of my life. I did not need any of that absurdity today! We drove around Tijuana and headed south!
Just past Tijuana in Baja, California, Mexico.
[su_pullquote]If no one is waving their arms at us, we are probably alright.[/su_pullquote]The road is beautiful. There are mountains, shanty houses of vibrant colors, rolling tides of ocean and fields of cacti. On the drive, Kristen and I might have blown through a military checkpoint as men in camouflage stood around checking vehicles. Kristen drove through the stop-sign. She did not know what to do, so I said, “If no one is waving their arms at us, we are probably alright.” We seemed to be and kept on going.
Check out that gorgeousness of coastal drive!
The coastal highway is beautiful. We drove south for about four hours to arrive in a Baja California, Mexican town called, Camalu.
The Baja 1000 race is taking place right now so there are people in ATV’s everywhere.
It seems like I would enjoy the Baja 1000 one day! I will put that idea in the memory bank!
See you in the future Baja 1000!
[su_note note_color=”#b0b1b6″ text_color=”#030303″ radius=”6″]The light-switch outside of the bathroom in our motel turns on the light inside of the bathroom and the light-switch inside of the bathroom turns on the light outside. Ah Mexico, you are really great! I am really glad to be in you right now. I can not quit smiling! [/su_note]
I am quickly whipping my Spanish skills back to ‘two-year-old child equivalent’ again and I have been having a blast talking Spanish to everyone. I am terrible at it, but I can communicate with everyone. I find crazy amounts of pleasure in talking it! I had an entire conversation with a man about our room at Hotel Margaritaville ($31 for two humans and two dogs), and then sorted out our meals in Spanish. Awesome. Then I bought four Pacifico beer, two bags of chips, two spicy worm-candies, and a piece of beef-jerky for $4.80!
I love you Mexico!
We took the dogs to pee here. We thought they would probably enjoy the view while leg-lifting.
