WestyWanderer
Nomad
Posts: 276
Registered: 10-24-2014
Location: San Clemente, CA
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San Clemente to Puertecitos
Left San Clemente on Nov. 15th headed for Puertecitos to get the in-laws all moved in for the season. Exchanged money in Calexico at 19.8/1 and
crossed at Mexicali west. We stopped in for our FMM's and the agent informed me that they only offer 180 day FMM's in the office, the free 7 day FMM
can only be done online. This was interesting to me because I attempted to do our FMM's online but when I went to check out the system tried to
charge me $100 USD! After explaining this story to the agent he spoke with a colleague and told us to go on our merry way WITHOUT any FMM  I wasn't about to argue and away we went.
Mexicali was bustling as was San Felipe. The south campos seemed to all have newly painted signs and fixed up entrances. The highway was a dream
with all work completed. We spent 6 days getting things opened up and going again all while enjoying perfect weather. On Friday, our last full day
there, the wife and I went for a ride through what we call "big canyon," its the canyon where the popular rock trail meets the Sea of Cortez. The
canyon was amazing with lots of grass and life, we even saw a herd of 7 big horn sheep, 6 females and 1 ram, feed ing on the canyon floor before they
scurried up the near sheer wall. Lots of race traffic on the way home but surprisingly we had a similar experience as John Harper, (ours was at
Mexicali west) we drove almost right up to the booth.
In Puertecitos Clara had her restaurant open for a short time but it is closed already. Don Goyo has opened his restaurant full time for breakfast,
lunch, and dinner and it is really good. He has a new cook from the mainland and she is fantastic. Las Palmas grocery store (next to Don Goyo's
restaurant) is well stocked and Xochitil (pronounced Sochi) speaks great english. They have fresh water, ice cream, super fast internet, and just
about anything you could need. Cowpatty opened on Friday and Christina's restaurant is open and serving great food as always.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64490
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Great info! Thanks... 
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13165
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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No FMM? How bizarre. It seems the rules change every day.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64490
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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What do they say about rules? LOL
While I always make sure to get the tourist card, as do most Nomads, I think... the vast majority of cross-border visitors just drive south and
(without reading the Internet threats), never know a FMM is "required" for a Baja land traveler...
There is NO SIGN mentioning the "need" for every tourist to get one as you enter Mexico. Imagine the traffic jam if everyone stopped to get one!!!
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eguillermo
Nomad
Posts: 113
Registered: 10-10-2008
Member Is Offline
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I was on my third or fourth trip before even becoming aware of the FMM. As a noob, I just figured that anything you actually needed would be demanded
of you right at the border, where they just waved me through every time.
Eventually the guys at the sanitization thing in G. N. randomly asked to see it, and I got the idea that maybe a certain piece of documentation was
missing . . . but no fines, no change of plans had to happen.
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