The First Time in Mexico

We had a wonderful New Year's Eve and New Year's Day with good friends. We laughed lots, had lots of great food and drinks, listened to good music and even danced our way into 2012!
The hubby was wanting to go into Los Algodones and check into getting a new top denture made, since a few of our good friends here had gone to a particular dentist and they were pleased with her work....and her prices!

The same thing with eyeglasses. Me? I have been skeptical and apprehensive toward the whole idea from the start!

Then I finally decided that if we could go with those who had been doing it for years, it may be good for a distraction, and at the best, DH will get fixed up. When your insurance doesn't cover these extras, it is nice to get some good work at a reasonable fee. So last Wednesday we embarked on the day's adventure about 9 and followed our friends to the Quechan ran ($5 on the way out) parking lot on the American side of the Los Algodones Baja California Border Crossing.
You park there, and walk through the gates and down a sidewalk around the Police Station and right down into the town Square.

The streets are lined with Vendor's booths....a Corner Plaza, where benches and restrooms edge the area where a Native American man sets up and plays the Flute. One Cart sells frest Asparagus and Frest Shrimp on Ice....some of the biggest shrimp I've ever seen, and they were $10 a pound.

We walked a couple blocks and through all the vendors and store fronts, there were many Dental and Optical Associates handing out cards advertising their services. Lots of souveneers, clothing, purses and belts. Accessories of all kinds for both men and women. We passed through all that browsing for the first while and right to the dentist office about 2 blocks away.

Mixed in amongst the vendors were booths and small cafes set up to sell Quesadilla, Shrimp Tacos and Margharitas.

Pharmacias every other store front offering lots of generic medicines that are very common to us in the U.S. and Canada for a very low price. The other bonus is that for anything but Narcotics you don't need a prescription. On Thursday we went back for his fitting and we stopped in Best Optical and he had an Eye Exam while we were on a roll....picked out two pairs of glasses, since they had a sale, buy one get one free. Also by the Pharmacias, there were discount Liquor Outlets, Cigar and tobacco Vendors. The first day we had to stay later in the afternoon and the line to get back across the border was really long.That wasn't to my liking, but we visited with some nice folks while we waited.

We probably were in line an hour and a half, but the second and third days our appointment was earlier and we were back across the border before noon, no lines no waiting. On Friday we were back over to pick up the Denture and Glasses...and I gave in to get a t shirt, very colorful jacket and an "ugly purse" according to DH. Let it be known that I like my "Ugly Designer Purse!" It has been cooler here this weekend.
The Border Patrol is really on the ball and they are guarding our Border Crossings. Homeland Security is very efficient and diligent in examining passports upon passing through the entry building returning to the U.S.
DH is down for the count.... his back started acting up before we started the trips to Mexico and it has gotten pretty bad.

He's made 3 trips to the chiropractor and basically is laying around on ice and walking a very small amount. It will just take time as usual, so there won't be any hiking trips scheduled in the next week or two! We had a couple of salesmen show up here on the street and knock on the door this morning with a brand new 2011 42 ft. Monaco Diplomat for us to look at. Nothing like Doing nothing and they bring the units to you!lol Actually I had walked over to our Mini RV Show on Saturday in the parking lot and visited with them while looking at another used unit. I guess they are trying to find something I like! Both of the rigs had some features that I really like and in seeing our rig, offered me a pretty good price, so the trading won't be out of the question, but I'm not flat in love with what I've seen...so they still have to win me over! Just calll me Picky and Foofy! :}