Trip #3 - Crossing the border

Third road trip in 3 weeks... the weekend after the San Fran adventure me, Brandon, Mark, Marie, Roland, and Amelie, drove acrss the U.S.-Mexico border to the tourist areas of Rosarito and Ensenada.

Driving there didn't take near as long as going to SF. It was about 2 and a half hours from Riverside. Crossing the border was exciting... for an foreigner who always here about the infamous "border". But for Americans I guess it's not really a big deal. There was no need to stop going into Mexico. I asked Brandon why we didn't need to do anything to get into their country and he responded with "Mexicans don't care if we go there. Its the Americans who care if they come here". Right on brutha.

Above: Approaching the border

Once we crossed into Mexico the scenery changed a I felt a little uneasy. All the signs were in Spanish and there were cars and people everywhere. We drove past Mexican military with machine guns standing on the side of the freeway, and tried to avoid hitting the random people running across the road. We were the lead car and I was in the passenger seat so all the directing was in my hands.... "Stay to the right", I said, "Derecha!"We got there eventually, and all we had to do was stick to the right and follow the famous fence acting as the divider between Mexico and America.

Above: The fence separating Mexico and America
Below: The scenery changes as we drive through just after the border

We were a bit early to check into our rooms, so we walked to Rosarito Beach, which was about a block away. There were a heap of people trying to sell us trinkets and crap on the beach. We sat at Iggy's for a while and had Margarita's. That's right, Margarita's on the beach in Mexico at 2pm. It was a great time!

Above: The Tequila Shot man after trying to attack my boyfriend to make him drink out of the nasty bottle. Brandon just stuck to his "Adios Muthafucka" instead.

That night we had dinner in a cute little Mexican Restaurant where our server didn't speak English so all our communicating was done with our little knowledge of Spanish and pointing at the menu. It was at dinner that we realised how cheap Mexico really is - For a big 3 course meal for 6 it cost us approximately $US40 (or $15 a couple including the tip). I couldn't even buy an entree for that price in the States!

After Dinner we went to Fugu's, a sushi restaurant and bar right by our hotel. We had a whole bunch of drink coupons to use there, so we thought we'd start the night off with a few free heart starters. Once Brandon, Mark, and Roland had gone through their bucket of coronas and me, Amelie, and Marie had had our fill of mixed drinks, we walked down the main strip to Papa's & Beer - said to be the best and most famous club there.

I must say, I was speechless when we walked into Papa's. I had never seen anything like it. It was huge, built on the beach so much of the floor was sand, but there were 3 or 4 levels of boardwalk looking landings for people to drink and dance on. There were people playing beach volleyball, dancing, drinking, dry humping. It was quite a sight for an innocent girl like me.

We stayed until about 2am, after Marie had done a huge beer bong and we had all had enough dancing.

The next morning we had breakfast and then walked around Rosarito for a bit looking for a place to get a map so we could go to Ensenada. Mark and Marie left to go back to America, and the rest of us jumped in the car and drove about 40 minutes to Ensenada. We spent all day there, walking around the food festival and boardwalk.

That night we ate at Fugus and then had a quiet one. Me, Brandon and Roland hung out in the jacuzzi.

Crossing back over the border to America was exciting. It only took us an hour (compared to the 5 hours it had taken mark and Marie the day before!).

Above: Leaving Rosarito. "Thankyou for visitng. Travel safely."
Below: Clear difference... America on the Left, Mexico on the right.

Below: Follow the signs home.

Above: Sniffer dogs checking cars.

Below: Almost our turn to cross the border!

But we made it! I think Mexico was the best trip I had since coming back from the East Coast. Despite the locals thinking i was Mexican and it being a little hard to communicate sometimes (you try thinking back to 1st year uni Spanish A and B), I had an awesome time. I think the trip to Mexico made me realise that I really do love traveling, and that it's the uncertainty of being in a new country that makes it so much fun. It was a good way to end my traveling here. I will definitely remember it.