A friend of a friend called me the other day asking for advice on "what to watchout for" and "what to prepare for" on their first 1-week driving trip.
I started the usual littany of "get insurance with legal", "don't drive at night", etc. He set me back a bit by saying he knows these things, it's
the little things that one learns that can make or break a hard earned vacation. I told him I would post this as a question for traveler's top 2 or 3
"little" things.
Mine:
Use pesos
Smile with your eyes as well as your mouth
Never go barefoot - even in the ocean
At least once or twice, eat at a roadside cafe
Take your sun glasses off at check points
What's Yours?yankeeirishman - 5-23-2005 at 02:55 PM
Visit all the little villlages.
Dont be afraid of police and Federals, they ARE cool!
Stay out of large hotels.bigzaggin - 5-23-2005 at 03:07 PM
-Drive SLOWLY through ANY town.
- Cover yourself in sunscreen the moment you wake up
- If you're camped somewhere seemingly remote and someone approaches you asking for $5, do not debate property owenership laws with him. Just give
him the money and smile.
- Scorpions hide in yuccas
- Get gas in El Rosario. ALWAYS.
- Hide a spare key under your car
- BEER COZIES!!!!!!!
Driving in Baja
roundtuit - 5-23-2005 at 08:10 PM
Drive defenceably . Watch out for trucks on curves and try to follow Mex Buses
TOPES and VADOS
Sharksbaja - 5-23-2005 at 08:25 PM
Speed bumps(near towns) and dips that may not be seen easily. Watch the arroyos that cross the hwy, a favorite place for range animals to cross.
Mexican police use radar very effectively.Tommy A - 5-23-2005 at 08:58 PM
In any bar do not run a tab unless you have been there before. A shot of tequila and a beer may be $4.00 in one place and right a cross the street be
$10.00 and it will add up real fast. Good Luck
[Edited on 5-24-2005 by Tommy A]bajalera - 5-23-2005 at 08:58 PM
When you see a settlement on the road ahead, slow down-- the people who b-tch about tope damage are those who go blasting through.elgatoloco - 5-23-2005 at 10:05 PM
Roadside Geology and Biology of Baja CaliforniaBruce R Leech - 5-24-2005 at 06:44 AM
try as many different tequilas as possible.
be polite to the people. and if you are Canadian try to louse the attitude that every one is trying to rip you off.
[Edited on 5-24-2005 by Bruce R Leech]
make sure...
eetdrt88 - 5-24-2005 at 07:51 AM
to visit every bano possible,that way next time down youll know which ones are pleasant and which ones are scary...if possible take a picture of each
one and post here when you get back so we can all see too....thank youAnonymous - 5-24-2005 at 08:49 AM
Make a local friend wherever you stop...if even for only a few hours. All the rest of your Baja life will follow.Santiago - 5-24-2005 at 08:51 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by lencho
[
What I told my buddy the first time I turned over the wheel to him in Baja:
"Assume nothing."
--Larry
A-freaking-men!
Keep yer better than thou
jrbaja - 5-24-2005 at 09:45 AM
P-nche gringo attitudes in yer arse where they belong! Respect the locals, and try and learn patience rather than whining about everything that seems
different than the u.s.b.s..
Well,
Anonymous - 5-24-2005 at 09:52 AM
should have seen this place 40 years ago!jrbaja - 5-24-2005 at 09:55 AM
yankeeirishman - 5-24-2005 at 10:01 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by jrbaja
P-nche gringo attitudes in yer arse where they belong! Respect the locals, and try and learn patience rather than whining about everything that seems
different than the u.s.b.s..
I vote for jrbaja to become the next Governor of Tourist! Good words you have here!
[Edited on 5-24-2005 by yankeeirishman]
Governor of tourism
jrbaja - 5-24-2005 at 10:05 AM
I like that idea. I'll start working on my recipe for pinch gringo goulash to make up for all the native flora and fauna that my bamboo has killed.
Gotta slop those pigs n vacas with something!Cincodemayo - 5-24-2005 at 01:36 PM
The "Governator of Baja".
Do you take bribes JR?Cincodemayo - 5-24-2005 at 01:45 PM
Good one Pompano! Nickname you Quickdraw....turtleandtoad - 5-24-2005 at 03:38 PM
Baja no-see-ums BITE!
But Deet works on them.
[Edited on 5-24-2005 by turtleandtoad]
Seems to me
jrbaja - 5-24-2005 at 03:54 PM
according to what I see daily up and down the peninsula, the bribes have already been took!Sharksbaja - 5-24-2005 at 06:27 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by bajalera
When you see a settlement on the road ahead, slow down-- the people who b-tch about tope damage are those who go blasting through.
Actually, I like to get airborne! No damage yet!
Too bad most can't be seen until you are on them..... and I do understand some people NEVER drive at night.
but, thanx for caring. I do get tired of scraping the tires off after passing
thru.JESSE - 5-24-2005 at 07:18 PM
They wear one of those straw hats that say "Tijuana" or "La Paz" on them.bajalera - 5-24-2005 at 07:22 PM
but, thanx for caring. I do get tired of scraping the tires off after passing
thru.