We've been settling into our Mex rental with little time to blog.
But tonight when I finally fired up my computer, I was hit with the news about a fatal shooting outside a Tucson Safeway, an area we just left on Thursday. A gunman shot and killed 6 people with an automatic weapon in broad daylight, outside the grocery store.
Tragic senseless violence. And it can happen anywhere.
My Fella and I were a little apprehensive about driving south to Mexico this year. Although we've driven these roads many times before, we were worried about crossing the border and navigating the Mexican highways. And quite a few folks who knew we were heading south, voiced their concerns.
But the most descriptive word I can think of to explain our drive south this year would be: boring.
No danger. No crazies. No gun battles or drug fights. No cartels or federales at war, at least not in our path. Just long stretches of straight, flat highway. And there were a few areas of the drive where we didn't even see another vehicle for at least twenty minutes.
After all the warnings and all that worry about driving into Mexico this year, this was likely our easiest crossing ever. It took less than fifteen minutes to:
- fill out our tourist visas (the forms have changed a bit this year)
- joke with the customs dudes
- get our visas stamped
- hop back into the car and head to San Carlos
The immigrations officer gave me a hard time, but all in good fun. He started the conversation by speaking in Spanish so I replied in Spanish, which I should never, never, NEVER do when I first arrive in Mexico. I'm always rusty for the first few days, waiting for the words and phrases to come back to me.
Anyway, he had a great sense of humour and insisted we continue speaking in Spanish. We brought Shelbert in with us and with a straight face, he asked if she needed a visa card too. He was quite the comedian, but maybe you had to be there.
There are two border crossings at Nogales - one that goes through the center of town, and the other is a big truck route (Mariposa road) that skirts city. We opted for the truck route - it's well marked and much easier to navigate.
Every other year we've been pulled over and had the trunk checked and a quick conversation with the customs guards. This year we were waved through both checkpoints, no problem.
And within 3 hours we were pulling into San Carlos.
More pics and stories to come about our week in Mexico, but we arrived safe and sound.
And if CNN is to be believed, now we should probably be more nervous about our trip back into Tucson than our stay here in Mexico.
Good to hear you've made it safe and sound. And the palm trees leave me wistful :) Winter is back here after a couple of weeks of chinook.
There is no doubt that trouble can be found anywhere. And all the precautions in the world won't help one avoid simply being in the wrong place and the wrong time.
Enjoy every minute. That's the bottom line.
Posted by: Laurie | January 09, 2011 at 09:47 AM
Hate to say it but can't resist: I TOLD YOU SO. lol lol
Seriously though I am glad you had a good trip down. It is freezing so hope you brought your jackets, toques, scarves, mittens with you. BRRR.
The media and propaganda machines are doing well in keeping people from visiting this winter. It is a shame.
Yes, there is crime here, (where isn't there, really); but on the whole tourists are not targeted unless you are into the drug scene and getting into things you shouldn't be.
Posted by: Brenda | January 09, 2011 at 03:52 PM
NewsMama - I'd bring you back a palm tree but USA customs hates that type of thing. Two years ago I tried to sneak half an old coconut shell out of Mexico and I was singled out at the border.
And FYI, the Mexican cacti all say 'hi'. Seems they've heard ALL about you from their Arizona friends :)
Miss ya... but not the weather.
Posted by: kelsi | January 10, 2011 at 06:47 AM
Really Brenda? THIS is freezing? It was sunny and mid 20's yesterday! Oy vay... you have NO Alberta blood left in you :)
I'd totally forgotten how beautiful this area is...
Posted by: kelsi | January 10, 2011 at 06:53 AM
Yes, it is both beautiful and freezing lol.
I think my Canadian blood has wimped out and turned Mexicana lol. I suppose after it being around 43C. here (with humidity factored in) in the summer 24 feels cold. My shiver zone is hovering around 27 C. now. lol which when I think about it is warmer than a lot of Canadian summer days. So strange what a persons body adapts to.
I know that in San Carlos people are wearing shorts and tank tops; but here in Guaymas the people are wearing winter coats, scarves, boots, mittens and toques lol.
Roy and I are somewhere in between, sweats at home, jeans, long sleeved shirts and jackets when uptown. So far I haven't bought any mittens; but I was seriously thinking about it the other morning. Go figure eh?? (had to throw in an "eh").
Enjoy your vacation.
Posted by: Brenda | January 10, 2011 at 04:45 PM