Lost In Algodones

I bet you can guess where we are headed, but not until we froze half to death getting in the car.  Oooowee it was cold in Yuma today.   We donned our coats and headed out bright and early.  I think we were walking across the border at 7:30 in the morning.  

Oh but there was this slight problem.  The new entrance takes you the wrong direction and drops you off at the far end of town.  Nothing looked familiar.  

Thinking we usually go straight, we got to the end of the beautiful border fence (I was afraid to take pictures), where we made a left turn.  Down the block and another left had us completely lost.  My really good sense of direction does not work one tiny bit when in Mexico.  I've no idea why, but I can get lost there faster than a squirrel chasing his tail.

One more long block and we recognized the name of our pharmacy ... except it was the wrong one.  They directed us further down the street until AHA ... we made it.  At least by then I knew ABOUT where we were because of this picture ... the police station, or so they tell me.  Literally ten minutes later we were out the door with our meds.  Now to find the pottery barn.

I always try to keep an eye on the Purple Pharmacy, because I know somewhere around there is the OUT gate.  

We turned right above, went one block and turned right again.  Yup ... this is the place.  They have the biggest and best selection of pottery.  Ask for Janet.  Janet Jackson she says, but I'm not sure I believe her.

While Cindy pondered the pottery, I checked out the inside of the building.  Yes, there is NO roof.  Weird.  What she DID find however, was a concrete bench like hers at home, on which she could glue beautiful Mexican tiles.  Okay, not SHE, but HE could do the gluing.  

The tiles were piled high in boxes along the wall, topped with even more pottery.  All that had to be removed in order to access the boxes, and in several cases four or five boxes had to be removed also.  They were SO accommodating, and dropped the price from $7.00 each to $4.00 each.  Bartering is the name of the game.

With our prizes in hand, we headed for the border.  No longer can you return to the U.S. near the Purple Pharmacy.  You now have to talk clear around the next block to get in.  I breezed right on through, although I was asked WHY oh WHY I did not sign my passport.  I didn't know I had to.  He took my picture once again, reprimanded me for not signing and let me go.  WHOA ... FREE AT LAST!!!

So happy to be back on OUR soil, we headed straight to the Green Store?  It's a discount place, completely packed full of people at 9:00 in the morning.  What can I say ... they had ice cream, none of which had expired yet, for $1.50 I think it was.  I picked up crackers, a BIG bag of Lays potato chips, scalloped potatoes, another carton of ice cream and a couple miscellaneous things, all for $11.00.  That's cheap eats!!

I think we were home by 10:00.  I messed with my TV for while before Ray knocked on the door.  Let's go get shrimp tacos!!  HECK YEAH!!  You know the place, way up near Fortuna Blvd, Tacos El Cositas.  They never fail to satisfy.  

Just for kicks on the way back, we drove through the park to see what was for sale.  It's a 55+ gated community with lots of amenities.  Beautiful little places like this run between $365-$452,000.  A little pricey considering the HOA fees, which they say is low at $360/mo because "it costs MUCH more in California".  It's beautiful here, and I would love to stay, but the 118 degrees in summer is a little too much.

Later in the evening, Ray came over to help me hook up to his internet.  I watched one movie, and although I think I have unlimited data, my device says 5 GB.  It used up 3.5 GB watching just ONE movie.  We got it working and I am now able to watch shows on the internet.  Thank you Ray!!!

It's pretty crazy this morning, with a 65% chance of rain and wind gusts up to 40 mph.  You never know exactly WHAT it's going to do, so we scheduled a lazy day of rest.  Tomorrow the fabric store opens with a nice sale.  Time to see just how much space I can make available in this rig!!!