After an Ihop breakfast we head for Mexico. The border crossing is crowded but it only takes us about twenty minutes since we already have our tourist visas. We exchange our dollars for pesos at a 13% rate (130 pesos = one dollar). As we pull away from the guard house we are both nervous and excited. We notice the very long line of cars waiting to get into the US. Vendors are everywhere. We follow Mex Rt. 1 through some of the poorest neighborhoods you can imagine, block and concrete structures with no door or windows. Everyone throws their trash on the roof. At our first stop light we are besieged by youngsters selling trinkets and candy. They ply their trade until the light turns green. I pull off the highway looking for an old bull fighting ring and end up lost in Tijuana for the rest of the morning. The great white motor home attracts lots of stares as we negotiate narrow streets and crowded intersections. Turn signals are used differently in Mexico. Apparently a left turn signal means it's OK to pass. We stop at an OXXO store which is equivalent to a 7-11. We buy coffee and successfully use the ATM machine.
We finally find Mex Rt. 1 and head south. The scenery and the poverty level both rise as we leave town. Rt. 1 is a toll road and we get short changed at one booth because we're not familiar with Mexican money. There are many vistas looking down on long sandy beaches. We stop at a sea level wayside and have a run on the beach with the dogs. Several horses are saddled and ready to rent.
We wind our way through Ensenada, the third largest city in Baja. Due to the lack of signage we end up on a narrow one way street. We again find Rt. 1 and stop for gas at a Pemex. It turns out that gas and gas stations are owned by Mexico. It's sold by the liter and it's cash only.
We take an RV site at Estero Beach resort and have our first authentic Mexican meal. I order my favorite - chili rellanoes. It comes out looking good but it's so spicy hot I can't finish it. I have to order ice cream to put out the fire. Peggy orders sushi (eel rolls), of all things to have on a Mexican menu, and she says it is very good.
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| Crossing Border from U.S. into Tijuana, Mexico |
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| View of coast just outside of Tijuana, Mexico |
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| The dogs running on a beach in Puerto Nuevo, Mexico. |
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| Surfs up in Puerto Nuevo, Mexico. Poudre forgot his surfboard. |
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| Mitch contemplating on how cold the water is before he decides to jump in! |
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| Just call me "The Dog Walker!' |
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| Horses on the beach in Puerto Nuevo, Mexico. |
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| Mex 1 from Tijuana to Ensenada, Mexico |
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| Beautiful view from Mex 1. |
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| Sunset at Estero Beach south of Ensenada, Mexico |
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| The next morning at Estero Beach. |
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| Estero Beach's estuary which is home to many shore birds. |
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| Dixie loving retirement. |
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