On the Way to the Mexican Border

Today, my son, Keith, and I went on a shopping trip into Mexico. Brittany (my future daughter in law) had to work at the last minute and couldn’t join us, so we took my Explorer for our trip. Keith drove. You are always somewhat nervous driving in Mexico, but a very near miss of what would have been a very bad accident occurred on the U.S. side and was only avoided by Keith’s excellent driving skills. But the near miss made me feel nervous for several hours. We took out Mexican auto insurance before crossing the border and then drove into Mexico.

On the Way to the Mexican Border

Crossing the Border

This photo shows the pedestrian bridge going from the U.S. on the left over to Mexico on the right. After this trip by car, I am beginning to think that the smart people either walk across this bridge or take the shuttle over the border and do their shopping in Tijuana.

Crossing the Border

On the Way to Rosarito Beach

Following the signs to the Scenic Highway.

On the Way to Rosarito Beach

On the Way to Rosarito Beach

Part of The Fence separating Mexico on the left and the United States on the right.

On the Way to Rosarito Beach

On the Way to Rosarito Beach

Houses on the hills outside Tijuana.

On the Way to Rosarito Beach

On the Way to Rosarito Beach

On the Scenic Highway––toll: $2.30.

On the Way to Rosarito Beach

Rosarito Beach

And I did find the mirror––shown in the photo, at about 1/2 the St. Augustine price. But I found Rosarito Beach to be extremely depressing. We used to go there for mini–vacations about 20 years ago. At that time, Rosarito Beach was a sleepy border town with a great hotel and a quiet beach. Today, it resembles a Third–World madhouse, which, however, is not its only problem. Three days after we were there, but at night, a convoy of 40 vehicles with 70 heavily armed men representing a drug cartel were reported to be prowling the streets of Rosarito Beach. Three policemen answered the call and they were immediately murdered by the gunmen, then decapitated, with their heads thrown in the Tijuana River. Photo: the mirror that I found in Rosarito Beach (I found the lizard in Los Angeles).

Rosarito Beach

On the Way to Puerto Nuevo

We passed the new fiberglass statue of Jesus on the way to Puerto Nuevo. In the photo you will see some very large modern houses. In this area, there are numerous such houses as well as very nice high–rise condominiums. However, just about everything else here is very poor and very Third World. The land is also dry, with little water available for vegetation.

On the Way to Puerto Nuevo

Puerto Nuevo

On the way to Puerto Nuevo, about 40 miles from the border, there were numerous stands and stores selling Mexican merchandise along the roadside and we stopped at some of them. When we got to Puerto Nuevo, the first thing that we did was to go to Ortega’s for lunch. Keith going into Ortega’s.

Puerto Nuevo

Puerto Nuevo

Beautiful tiles in the restaurant.

Puerto Nuevo

Puerto Nuevo

One of the dining rooms.

Puerto Nuevo

Puerto Nuevo

We came to Puerto Nuevo for fried lobster. However, our waiter didn’t realize that we wanted it fried and instead brought it to us steamed. We told him we wanted it fried and we think that he just took our already steamed lobster and put it in the fryer. It was definitely not as good as the fried lobster we had on our last trip, but I think that was mainly because of the lack of seasoning on the ones we were now eating. But the restaurant’s tortilla soup was out of this world. Our meal also included rice, beans, and freshly made tortillas. There are probably 30 or more restaurants in Puerto Nuevo and most of them were crowded with tourists, mainly Californians.

Puerto Nuevo

Puerto Nuevo

A restaurant (not crowded) and the Pacific Ocean seen from the window of Ortega’s.

Puerto Nuevo

Puerto Nuevo

A view of a trash dump from another window at Ortega’s.

Puerto Nuevo

Puerto Nuevo

Beautiful tiles in the hallway of Ortega’s.

Puerto Nuevo

Puerto Nuevo

One of the mariachi singers at Ortega’s.

Puerto Nuevo

Puerto Nuevo

Time to go shopping. The shopping street.

Puerto Nuevo

Puerto Nuevo

Another view of the shopping street with more restaurants.

Puerto Nuevo

Puerto Nuevo

Advertisement for real estate. Interestingly, along our drive in Mexico, we saw a number of signs advertising American realty companies which are now coming into Mexico.

Puerto Nuevo

Puerto Nuevo

One of the stores.

Puerto Nuevo

Puerto Nuevo

Close–up of the store’s blankets for sale. I bought a blanket in Puerto Nuevo but not at this store.

Puerto Nuevo

Puerto Nuevo

Masks for sale.

Puerto Nuevo

Puerto Nuevo

Another view of the masks.

Puerto Nuevo

Puerto Nuevo

Serapes for sale.

Puerto Nuevo

Puerto Nuevo

Mexico T–shirt.

Puerto Nuevo

Puerto Nuevo

I haven’t a clue who this guy is.

Puerto Nuevo

Puerto Nuevo

Mexican humor.

Puerto Nuevo

Puerto Nuevo

Odds and ends with a view of the Pacific Ocean.

Puerto Nuevo

Puerto Nuevo

In the other direction.

Puerto Nuevo

Puerto Nuevo

More odds and ends.

Puerto Nuevo

Puerto Nuevo

Bakery items.

Puerto Nuevo

Puerto Nuevo

More bakery items.

Puerto Nuevo

Puerto Nuevo

More bakery items.

Puerto Nuevo

Puerto Nuevo

Fruit for sale.

Puerto Nuevo

Puerto Nuevo

Churros vendor. Keith bought Brittany a beautiful Talavera vase here as well as a Talavera planting pot with stand. I bought some Talavera butterflies and a vase. We stopped off on our way back to the border at some of the vendors along the highway and I found a very pretty planter to buy. You can get very good deals here, especially if you can bargain as well as Keith can. It is great fun to shop down here, but the trip is hectic and you begin to wonder if it is worth the tension to do it.

Puerto Nuevo

Back to the Border

Driving back to the border. Sign thanking us for our visit.

Back to the Border

Back to the Border

The border fence is on the left.

Back to the Border

Back to the Border

he United States is on the left; Mexico is on the right.

Back to the Border

Back to the Border

Numerous vendors started to appear between the rows of cars in line to cross the border. This is the first time that we have seen these vendors here. There were so many that it reduced the number of lanes available for cars, but, on the other hand, it gave a needed separation between lanes. Traffic moved very slowly here. You never know how long it is going to take you to cross the border in this direction––sometimes very quickly and other times hours.

Back to the Border

Back to the Border

Another vendor.

Back to the Border

Back to the Border

Close–up of the vendor cart.

Back to the Border

Back to the Border

Adios Amigos sign.

Back to the Border

Back to the Border

The stores on the right of the photo were a welcome sight as they told us that we were getting closer to the border.

Back to the Border

Back to the Border

Advertisement in this area.

Back to the Border

Back to the Border

Another vendor.

Back to the Border

Back to the Border

Finally, the border, with about 12 lanes of bumper–to–bumper cars waiting to cross. It took us 1 1/2 hours to cross the border, the slow border crossing due to the U.S. border control agents. The agents were letting about one car through in each lane only every three to five minutes. It appeared to be due to the agents telling people about the new passport regulations regarding travel to Mexico. Our agent told us that passports would be needed to enter Mexico starting in December 2006. However, I looked up the new regulations when I got home and passports will be needed at the end of December 2006 only for sea and air travel to Mexico (they will be needed for the Caribbean and Canada as well). Passports will be needed for land travel to Mexico and Canada at the end of December 2007.

Back to the Border