Dear lazywebs

[inbhirnis]

(To borrow a phrase from cpratt):

I've got a couple of my Scottish Trek friends are coming out to visit at the end of the month. They've expressed an interest in crossing over into Mexico. Apart from a road trip with a friend halfway down the Baja peninsula about 18 years ago, I've taken the trolley down to Tijuana and walked over a couple of times. Last time, I was with my sister and (blonde, well developed) teenage niece, and, well, it was uncomfortable for them.

Does anyone have a suggestion for an easy trip across the border that isn't quite so grimy/misses the grime? Should I investigate taking my car over in order to go further south than TJ? Is it worth driving out to Tecate or Mexicali or somewhere instead?

Talking of having a lovely Mexican experience, I was thrilled to finally meet my LJ friend estudioso on Friday. Too brief a visit, unfortunately. He is as charming as you'd imagine!

Comments

[cpratt.livejournal.com]

Or, rather, jwz (to give credit where credit is due!).

What you want is a Tecate brewery visit (closed Sundays). Parking is $5 in Tecate, CA and it's a short walk into town and on to the brewery.

[inbhirnis.livejournal.com]

When I did my trip down the peninsula, we actually crossed at Tecate, and I remember it looked OK.

Anything of note to walk to, other than the brewery?

[cpratt.livejournal.com]

The town square is pleasant, there's a crafts market on the way, supermarkets, good food (either Mexican or Chinese), plus some 7-11 type things around for a quick drink and a snack.

You could go hog wild, buy insurance, and drive down to Mexican wine country, eat at Laja, that kind of thing, but that's much more of a production number!

[estudioso.livejournal.com]

You know guys, whilst you are in Tecate, I'd recommend to bring the car into Mexico and drive the Rumorosa part of the Tijuana-Mexicali highway. There are several observation points that take your breath away.

[inbhirnis.livejournal.com]

Hmm - I'll check into the insurance and see if that's possible - thanks!

[estudioso.livejournal.com]

It was lovely to meet you too, Roy. It was a brief but rich time we had together. Looking forward to the next get together.

Abrazos

[inbhirnis.livejournal.com]

Definitely!

Abrazos back at ya - glad I got to give you two of them... :-)

[joebehrsandiego.livejournal.com]

Roy - I have made the MX crossing via Tecate several times. It's usually stress/crowd-free.

Tecate itself is a pleasant, mostly-non-tourist-y Mexican town ... tree-d plaza, big Catholic church, etc.

Sites worth bookmarking:

http://www.clubrust.com/maps.htm
http://math.ucr.edu/ftm/bajaPages/BajaRoadPages/General/CrossingTheBorder.html

I would agree with the comment in the second site above that the drive from Tecate to Ensenada is lovely.

Tecate sites:

http://www.baja-web.com/tecate/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tecate
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=tecate+mexico&rls=com.microsoft:en-US&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&resnum=1&ct=title

[inbhirnis.livejournal.com]

Lots of good info - thanks!

[capthunter.livejournal.com]

Keep in mind we don't want to put you to a lot of trouble, Roy. :)

[inbhirnis.livejournal.com]

No problem - I'm looking forward to a little Mexican adventure myself!

[capthunter.livejournal.com]

Well in that case, hurrah! :)