San Diego and Tijuana

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The journey to San Diego was relatively quick, we stopped a few times along the way once for Ben who was still feeling unwell and once for fuel (gas), that was an experience in itself.

The hostel at San Diego was very luxurious compared to the LA hostel we had stayed in previous and was set up in such a way as to encourage socialising. We checked in and, in preparation for the overnight camping we had planned, went shopping for camping gas and tents, (after Ben ham-handedly destroyed mine in Australia).

The following day we crossed the US boarder into Mexico and Tijuana, the difference was instantly noticeable, shanty town style buildings, crumbling sidewalks and pushy market sellers. After fighting off a barrage of taxi drivers we boarded a bus, where I think the driver noticing we were not locals increased the price just for us. The main city centre was lively and fun, market sellers, restaurateurs and sex-trade touts shout for your attention and try entice you or even push you into their shops, restaurants or brothels. There is a certain degree of tongue-in-cheek humour about the sellers, they do not take themselves seriously they know, as we do, that they are out to rip us off and take us for every dollar they can so they make jokes about it. That honesty is some how reassuring and you feel you happy and safe haggling with the traders, it almost becomes a game and is certainly good fun.

After stopping for some genuine Mexican tacos, being serenaded with a rendition of ‘La Bamba’ and purchasing myself a Texan-cowboy style hat, we departed Tijuana and crossed the boarder without trouble back into the US. From here it was just a short 200-mile drive to our next stop in Joshua Tree Park.

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Photos

Crossing the Boarder
Me standing on the boundary between the United States and Mexico

Busiest Boarder crossing in the world
Now on the Mexican side, the long queue of cars trying to get into the free world!

My new hat!
Pleased with my recent purchase, I posed for the camara.

'La Bamba'
He serenaded us with a rendition of 'La Bamba' as we sampled authentic Mexican cuisine.

Authentic Mexican lunch
For lunch we ate some genuine Mexican food, don't know what I had but it was very tasty.

Bunking Bronko
After lunch we had a go on a bunking bronko. They really threw us around.

Comments

[Mum]

Hat
Looking forward to seeing you in the hat!