Today, we decided to venture out to Los Algodones, Mexico for a day of shopping.
Los Algodones is in state of Baja California at the corner of the Sonora just at the intersection of California and Arizona. You can actually just see the town from Interstate 8. It's situated right next to the Quechan Casino where many people will stay for the night and then just walk over the border and just 7 miles from Yuma. Actually, a number of weeks ago I bogged on going to Yuma and checking out the Cocopah RV Resort - well that resort is also just right over the border by Los Algodones. Quechan Casino owns a very large parking lot and cars, truck and RVs will park in this lot, which is just on the border. This is what we did. We paid $6 for a day of parking and then just walked right through the turnstile and poof, we were in Mexico.
Once we crossed the border, the first thing we noticed was that it was HOT over the border. It was 94 degrees and it was only 87 in Andrade, California. So weird, but I think that because the city is so close together, building blocking you in, etc. there isn't a lot of opportunity for a breeze, so that may be why. The second thing we noticed were Dental offices everywhere and a bathroom. There was a man sitting at the entrance of the bathroom who gave you a sheet of paper towel. I didn't know what it was for so I used it to wipe down the toilet seat, but after I washed my hands there was no paper...I guess that's what it was for. I just air dried them and off we went.
Los Algodones is nicknames "Molar City" because there are more than 300 dentists in town that Americans will go to by simply walking over the border. The cost of dental work there is substantially lower as compared to US dentist and these dentist are trained and education in the US. There are local Mexicans prodding you to come to their dental office, etc. as the competition is stiff. We did have a previous plan to go see Dr. Carols Rubio because he is the best for the type of dental work, Alyse needs so we got some information from them. His staff was great and spoke fabulous English. The office was neat and clean. Very nice. I can see why Americans go there. He is the best in dental implant work and had many dental certificates on his walls.
After you pass through the "dental zone" you come to pharmacy and eye doctors shops as well. Many Americans were taking advantage of their services and prices especially the young and the elder who don't have the greatest medical coverage after they retire.
On the corner near the border was a bright, brilliant plaza full of fun shops. Our objective was to find a wool yoga blanket for me but instead we found some fun souvenirs and a nice Mexican flower pot. We bought Lilly two outfits and SJ a turtle and drum. Of course, we barter for everything. The market places are full of color and items galore. So much to look at. The minute to look at something or touch something someone is there to bug you to buy it until you either do or walk away. You get used to it after awhile but it's not great for a pleasant shopping experience.
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| I bought this pot for my flowers. |
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| We even saw a BYU knitted backpack! |
And, there are plenty of poor people - many older people - hoping you will give them any kind of money. One old senora really touched me. She was a white haired, toothless woman, struggling to get up from the sidewalk where she was sitting so I gave her a $5 bill and a smile. She was very grateful. Other people you will notice are young mothers with babies or small children who have just got out of school to sell their little Chick-lets gum or small trinkets. I think we spent more money give away $1 here and there to street vendors than we did on anything else. So we bought Cierra a colorful headband. Poor Hunter got left out but Scott reminded me that he's getting a very expensive gun and would probably care less about some Mexican trinkets when we go to visit them.
For lunch, I ate at a taco cart in the middle of the road. I don't mind eating at dives like that. I had 2 chicken tacos and Scott bought a soda - in a glass bottle. The kid takes your order and then tells the guys cooking. It was yummy all the same. I love a good silver-dollar corn taco.
Finally, we decided it was time to head back to El Centro. Now, it's quite easy to enter Mexico but it's always another thing heading back to the US and the lines to walk over are often long. We could have driven into Los Algodones, but you take a gamble someone won't damage you car for insurance money so it's safer to just walk over the border and walk everywhere. As you can see, we are standing in a long line...with vendors selling their wares, musicians playing for a buck or kids and mama's hoping for some money.
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| A VERY LONG line... |
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| Vendors galore (the white gate is the US) |
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Armed Mexican military with semi-automatic rifles
checking your car before you leave Mexico if you choose to drive. |
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These trucks and care are turning right to leave Mexico
and US pedestrians walking to the end of the line. |
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| Mexican and American Flag and we stand in line. The fence on the right is the US. |
Once you go through the turnstiles on the US side of the border you are prohibited from taking any photos until you pass through customs, but I took a few as we headed back to the parking lot and crossed the road to where we started. The trip was fun -- but quite hot.
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