BajaNomad

Drive-down traditions

bajaboolie - 9-28-2007 at 08:51 PM

I'm currently in the "It's all I can think about" phase before my drive down to Mulege (a week away!!), dreaming about the fresh tortillas from any tortilleria and Camelitas at Villa Jesus Maria.

What are some of your traditions (food or otherwise) on the drive down? Are there any places you wouldn't skip on the way down? Anything I shouldn't pass up? I was grateful to learn about Carmelitas a few years ago.

Paulina - 9-28-2007 at 09:22 PM

What a fun question, that I don't think has ever been asked on the board. If I'm mistaken, I'm sure someone will correct me. Our drive south traditions have morphed over the years with the passing of time and the growth of children.

Some of our tradions driving as far as Bahia de Los Angeles are: (further south is a whole other list!)

Leaving the Punta Banda area pre-sunrise listening to James Taylor. By the time we got to the Santo Tomas area the sun would be in our eyes, his "Mexico" song would be playing and we (the kids and I) would be singing along to the top of our lungs as we crossed our fingers for no big rigs as we started up the grade.

El Rosario, diesel fuel, bathrooms and maybe a potato burrito to go from Mama's.

We also liked to stop at the cave paintings before Catavina and hike to the cave.

Then we would stop at the mercado on the left before the La Pinta hotel to buy Coca lite and some semillas del sol then on to La Pinta to use the bathroom and buy a bar of Hershey's chocolate from under the glass counter.

We stop in for a quick visit with Oscar and Matilda at Rancho Santa Inez.

We mark the Rock Mountain as only 45 minutes until the turn off. It was also the 50 k mile b-day of our truck a long time ago, so we have to remember that.

We make the turn off to Bahia de Los Angeles and stop at the very first pot hole we find and pee in it. (Debra can vouch for this one. I think we made her hold to the tradtion also) Now that they've paved the road, we have to hold it till we come to a certain turn out to do our duty.

We then pop in Fred Hoctor's cd "Fishin' with Fred" and sing along with Fred..."a fisherman's life is a good life indeed!" Then we'd have to explain to the kids that he really didn't use a gold fish for bait.

We honk at Mia's ranch.

At the view of the islands we pop a cervesa, and toast to a safe drive.

We stop at my dad Herman's house, then hit Martha's store, then honk at Mike H. as we pass the cemetary, then wave at the pangueros at the Diaz fish cleaning station as we head out to the trailers.

You have me waaay homesick now for a drive south myself. I can't wait. Our traditions continue as we continue south from Bahia, but those are for another time.
Have a safe trip and welcome to the board, by the way.

P.<*)))><

Edit: trying to rid my post of that sad face that attached itself to my post!



[Edited on 29-9-2007 by Paulina]

bajajudy - 9-28-2007 at 09:57 PM

We havent drive down in over three years but one rule we made was
"Dont get to Ralphs in Chula Vista before 6am"...they will not sell you adult beverages before 6am.....I have not a clue at what hour this ridiculous blue law starts but trying to hit the border early puts you at Ralphs just when you cant buy your supplies.:(:fire::O

I guess that is more a necessity than tradition.

oladulce - 9-28-2007 at 10:08 PM

The first audiobook starts at Santo Tomas and the stories take us thru the desert. In Baja Sur we play "name the next microondas station".

Returning north involves a series of multiple stops. After the first night on the beach at La Perla last week , we floated in the lovely water, and walked the cats on the beach for as long as we could. Then, I thought I could see the mainland just before the Santa Rosalia grade so we had to pull over and confirm with binoculars and take photos. Up a little farther, we had to pull over and check again.

A few miles further is where we like to stop at the base of the Virgines, get out and listen to the absolute quiet, and just look up in awe.

Usually it's about this stop that we fess up that we've stalled about as long as we can and we've got to get moving if we want to keep our jobs.

But in just a year and a half, ( about 4 trips more) and we'll never have to return North again. Yipee.

MENUDO at San Vicente

BAJACAT - 9-28-2007 at 10:09 PM

Paulina - 9-28-2007 at 10:11 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by oladulce
.... we'll never have to return North again. Yipee.



The tradition I can't wait to begin. Congrats, and may time pass quickly for you.

P<*)))><

Diver - 9-28-2007 at 10:15 PM

Our traditions on the way south include a quick stop at the Bufadora turnoff for jarred olives and peppers.
The bakery in Santa Rosalia; 2 ATM's in town and lots of fun shopping.
Breakfast at Saul's just south of Mulege'.
Sunrise on the point at El Requeson.
Dawn fishing launch at the Serenidad.
Margies at the pool bar at Serenidad before the pig roast on Saturday night.
And take a drive up into the hills for a different view of Mulege'.

.

bajaboolie - 9-28-2007 at 10:37 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Paulina

Leaving the Punta Banda area pre-sunrise listening to James Taylor. By the time we got to the Santo Tomas area the sun would be in our eyes, his "Mexico" song would be playing and we (the kids and I) would be singing along to the top of our lungs as we crossed our fingers for no big rigs as we started up the grade.



Oh yeah, music adds another dimension! For each year we seem to have different theme songs. They are either related to Mexico or not. The first year we brought our daughter down, we listened to "Livin' la Vida Loca" (about a thousand times because she couldn't get enough :rolleyes: ).There was "Deep in the Heart of Texas" last year, and this year she says she wants to listen to "South of the Border" by Autry. I've been in a Jimmy Buffet kick lately, so that will make the list.

Every time I play a song we attached to in Baja it brings me back...

Paulina - 9-28-2007 at 10:46 PM

Bajaboolie,
Music takes us to where we long to be. The other morning I got up early and tip toed down stairs to where my daugher (12 yrs.) was making her lunch for school. She had the cd player plugged in and was singing along to a Jimmy Buffet cd. I smiled knowing that baja was in her heart and mind that morning and that we had done something right.

You've got your daughter on the right track.

P.<*)))><

BajaBruno - 9-28-2007 at 11:46 PM

This is a memorable thread. I hope it continues. Thanks to all for sharing your treasured moments on H/W 1, instead of the terrifying ones.

BTW, Baja Judy, I feel the same about that blue law. It starts at 6AM in California, but at least you don't have to buy your adult beverages from some stodgy government employee like you do in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and a few other states I could miss.

Osprey - 9-29-2007 at 05:58 AM

First business stop on trips south from Las Vegas to Loreto was a market in El Centro to get pesos from the Chinaman. Once the peso was so bad I bought 1,000,000 pesos. Raced to San Filipe, stopped for gas and booze (just for the 2 of us, enough to make every last person in Fresno pass out -- for about $20 bucks). Unair the truck tires at Puertacitos, air em back up at Lake Chapala, blast on to the GN for the night, next early bright race to Loreto for 10 days or so of fun, sun, fish. Almost the same routine going home but slower, happy, sun baked, lighter in the bolsas. One trip, hotel room, food, booze, fishing (4 of us) = $1,750,000 pesos= $530 bucks. Not really a rictual, sorry.

shari - 9-29-2007 at 07:21 AM

Our Jesus Maria stop now includes popping some fresh oysters and slurpen em down then across the street to Cassandras for a visit with Sirena's boyfriends mama....Juan has traditional pee stops and these rarely vay uness they are occupied(they are secret/sacred like the surf spots) a meal at Martitas in Vizcaino is a must...great huge heaping quantities of wonderful food, large menu and very clean with excellent service.....and the San Ignacio store is where we do all our shopping, they have everything real cheap and fresh.

bajaboolie - 9-29-2007 at 10:05 AM

Yes, Osprey, the drive home has a different feel...happy and satisfied.

I never knew about the 6AM law...can't imagine how it makes anything better.

I'm really enjoying reading everybody's traditions. :biggrin:

[Edited on 9-29-2007 by bajaboolie]

woody with a view - 9-29-2007 at 10:42 AM

Quote:

these rarely vay uness they are occupied(they are secret/sacred like the surf spots)


shhhh....this one's a secret, also and rarely occupied!!!!:lol:

100_1975 (Small) (Small) (Small).jpg - 45kB

Bajagypsy - 9-29-2007 at 11:47 AM

We drive like crazy in our pj's, pack a small cooler full of snacks and then spend the night in San Deigo. Wake up early and hit Tijuana before 8:00am after that, it is slower going, stoping were we want, and just enjoying the landscape. On our way to our land, we pick up 6 beer, and have a beer or two on the dirt road (now 1/2 paved!!)

Going through towns we play our favorite game..... guess the breed of the mexican dog!

bajaboolie - 9-29-2007 at 04:35 PM

Does the mexican dog have a breed?? :lol:

Al G - 9-29-2007 at 05:10 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Osprey
First business stop on trips south from Las Vegas to Loreto was a market in El Centro to get pesos from the Chinaman. Once the peso was so bad I bought 1,000,000 pesos. Raced to San Filipe, stopped for gas and booze (just for the 2 of us, enough to make every last person in Fresno pass out -- for about $20 bucks). Unair the truck tires at Puertacitos, air em back up at Lake Chapala, blast on to the GN for the night, next early bright race to Loreto for 10 days or so of fun, sun, fish. Almost the same routine going home but slower, happy, sun baked, lighter in the bolsas. One trip, hotel room, food, booze, fishing (4 of us) = $1,750,000 pesos= $530 bucks. Not really a rictual, sorry.

Osprey, how many hundreds years ago was that:?::biggrin:

vacaenbaja - 9-30-2007 at 12:03 AM

Does the mexican dog have a breed??


Taconis serius

Osprey - 9-30-2007 at 07:05 AM

Woody, my wife and I took off our shoes and both counted to figure out when the peso was 3300 to one dollar. Close as we can come it was 1988 when they issued the 100,000 peso notes. I took several road trips down here while the peso was on that long slide and now, looking back, I could kick my own big butt -- I got in the habit of giving all my coins to the little girls with the Red Cross cans. Unhappily I did not recompute while the peso was on the slide, I just filled up their cans with very nearly negative money -- envision a half a can of 2 peso coins at 3300 to one! Jorge is the original Pendejo.

Osprey - 9-30-2007 at 07:06 AM

P.S. before anybody can say "It's the thought that counts" -- NO IT'S NOT

Osprey - 9-30-2007 at 07:08 AM

Second P.S. Sorry Al, I thought Woody was the one who asked what year.

Bajaboolie--first welcome

Baja Bernie - 9-30-2007 at 07:25 AM

Bajagypsy has it right. Rush to the border, but then go slow, stop often and for sure whenever you wish. Visit with the people....in Baja they are the roses.

Buffett really works

Ahhhhhhhh

BFS - 9-30-2007 at 10:45 AM

Amongst many others listed above our arrival in to Todos Santos marks the end of a long dusty road and we always have an icy margarita on the rocks out front at the Hotel California to toast a safe arrival.

Aq

bajaboolie - 9-30-2007 at 01:59 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Baja Bernie
Bajagypsy has it right. Rush to the border, but then go slow, stop often and for sure whenever you wish. Visit with the people....in Baja they are the roses.

Buffett really works


Thanks for the welcome, Baja Bernie. I'm glad you're staying online. As a seasoned Nomader (is that a word?), your comments and insights are valuable to everyone. And yes, I wholeheartedly agree that the people of Baja are the roses.

I plan on putting lots of Buffet to the test this trip! Previously, just Margaritaville was on our playlist.

bajaboolie - 9-30-2007 at 02:04 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by aqbluegreen
Amongst many others listed above our arrival in to Todos Santos marks the end of a long dusty road and we always have an icy margarita on the rocks out front at the Hotel California to toast a safe arrival.

Aq


...and speaking of Margaritaville...that sounds like a great tradition! Certainly well deserved after a long drive.

fdt - 9-30-2007 at 02:33 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Diver
The bakery in Santa Rosalia; 2 ATM's in town and lots of fun shopping.

Yes! Pan dulce from Panaderia El Boleo and Leche Caracol :light:

bajaboolie - 9-30-2007 at 02:37 PM

fdt...what's Leche Caracol? And where?

Bob and Susan - 9-30-2007 at 02:39 PM

it's "snail milk":lol:

the bottle of milk has a snail on it

woody with a view - 9-30-2007 at 02:41 PM

Quote:

"snail milk"


where's the snail farm and how do they milk them?

:?::?::?::?::?::?::?::?:

fdt - 9-30-2007 at 02:42 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajaboolie
fdt...what's Leche Caracol? And where?

As far as my taste buds (the kids to) are concerned, the best tasting milk in the peninsula

The dairy is in Vizcaino and is distributed widely from El Rosario to Los Cabos, used to be easy to find in Ensenada but the big guys Jersey and Lala have gotten pretty aggresive to the point of even beating Azucena from Ensenada in their oun town.

[Edited on 9-30-2007 by fdt]

bajaboolie - 9-30-2007 at 02:42 PM

It must take a lot of snails to get a gallon of milk!!:lol:

woody with a view - 9-30-2007 at 02:44 PM

used to look forward to the milk in a box we'd get in oaxaca. it was so rich and creamy that it was just incredible. haven't remembered that in awhile, thanks!

is there still such a thing as milk in a box?

bajaboolie - 9-30-2007 at 02:46 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by fdt
... the best tasting milk in the peninsula


I don't even know what we usually buy when we're down there. I'll be sure to buy some. If my daughter drinks it, it will be a miracle. She only drinks milk from chocolate cows (or in this case chocolate snails...). ;D

DENNIS - 9-30-2007 at 02:49 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by woody in ob

is there still such a thing as milk in a box?

Lots of brands on the shelves here. When will they start selling beer in a box? Not a case.......you know what I mean.

Skipjack Joe - 9-30-2007 at 03:52 PM

Our first stop from the border is this place.

Can you guess where it is?

The bathrooms are across the road. And so is the gas station, but we never use it. I pop up the camper and make breakfast in the shade of the eucalyptus trees. Alex chases lizards while I take a brief siesta before proceeding on.

palomar.jpg - 50kB

Wiles - 9-30-2007 at 06:33 PM

My dog watered those trees every trip.:lol::lol::lol::lol:

Wiles - 9-30-2007 at 06:37 PM

Ok…due to geographical difficulties, I haven’t been down Baja way for a few years so my traditions may be somewhat outdated but nonetheless still enjoyable to recall. Here goes.

Stop at the border for tourist permit, peso exchange, insurance, fishing license.

Enjoy the comforts of the last USA standard bathroom.

Pop the hood for one last check, check all tires, tie downs, boat trailer….again.

Open up camper shell and stare blankly inside. Panic once or twice thinking you have forgotten some important item only to realize you have loaded everything…..including the kitchen sink.

Roll call just to make sure all people and pets are aboard, head for the border.

Pat the dashboard gently while reminding your vehicle of it’s promise to get you there and back without difficulties.

Pray for a safe trip……..AND FUEL!!!

Reset trip odometer, cross the border.

Stop in Ensenada for chili flavored corn chips, load up the coolers. Top off fuel tanks. No messing around, many hours of road lies ahead.

Passengers take charge of their assigned checklist duties :

1) Bird Checklist - ID & record all living birds seen on trip.

2) Dead Critter List - count all dead dogs, cows, pigs, horses, donkeys, coyotes etc.

3) Dead Vehicle List - count all abandoned, burned out, stripped, crashed auto & truck carcasses.

4) Peligro List - Check road map often & call out mileage to next washout, detour, dangerous curve or bad pothole stretch.

225 miles south of the border as we crossed the riverbed at El Rosario and leave the power poles behind, we would exclaim ‘At last….Baja!!!’

Stop for fuel often and always ask attendant…….tu sabes si hay gasoline en …(next stop)? Then….esta seguro? It was always a confidence builder when the attendant replied ‘si’….that is until 5 miles from the next fuel stop you begin calculating how far you can go without tapping into the reserves if there is no fuel. You make the stop and try your suerte (luck). As you get ready to pull out you stop and ask the attendant….tu sabes si hay gasol…..??? Your confidence is restored…….for now.

If and when live cows, donkeys were encountered on the road…..I would stop and open the door and yell ‘moo cow’. My dog would rise out of his slumber and be out the door on a dead run , hair raised, growling and barking….at full charge….that was until he got within 10 ft and then all 4 brakes came on and he would detour to the nearest bush or cactus to claim the territory (a bull once taught him the respected boundaries).

We rarely if ever listened to music. With all the checklist activity and the endless conversation of things like ‘what is that’ of ‘where do you think that goes’ or ‘look at how they’re building this or that” or ‘what the heck??’, rolling down the windows to smell the fresh Baja air, the constant search to identify that previously unheard noise or rattle….. there never was time for music. Each mile brought new discovery, no matter how many times you had traveled that mile before.

When we arrived at our intended or otherwise destination we would shut down the motor, open the doors and just sit for a minute or two, quietly thanking Baja’s keeper of the keys for allowing us permission to enter her domain once again.

Thanks for the thread, I enjoyed the trip.

rts551 - 9-30-2007 at 06:55 PM

There is a sign on the road for the Caracol dairy outside of Vizcaino. Stop some time and take the tour. Most people think there is very little in that area. You will be pleasantly surprised

Skipjack Joe - 9-30-2007 at 07:13 PM

Actually, I'm starting to warm up to the idea of playing music during the journey. That view Paulina is talking about :
Quote:
Originally posted by Paulina

At the view of the islands we pop a cervesa, and toast to a safe drive.


Stop there in the evening light and play Dvorjak's "New World Symphony". I'll bet that would be quite an experience. I think he wrote it with such landscapes in mind.

Oh, ... and do it before the houses go up.

[Edited on 10-1-2007 by Skipjack Joe]

Wiles - 9-30-2007 at 08:07 PM

Skipjack..........

Where can I reserve seating for that? With that incredible view and the symphony sound playing to the sea.....WOW!!

Paulina....if you are listening.......download a copy of this song and listen to it under the stars of Bahia.

Song title: Ahi Wela
Artist: Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
CD: In Concert

You might ask...Que? Hawaiian music in Baja? Are you loco? Hey, I saw pics of hula troupes in the parade in La Paz on a thread here, so what the heck.

And by the way, Israel (affectionately known as Bruddah Iz) was in his 30's and weighed in at over 700lbs.

Paulina - 9-30-2007 at 09:23 PM

Skipjack and Wiles,


We'd all better hurry, that night time view is not going to be the same for much longer. The houses are going up, and once the electricity is on 24 hrs, I think our night vision of the islands and the town as we knew it will be altered. We can still sit there though, listening to that wonderful music and remember old times when the lights in town would go off at 10 pm and you could count the ocassional light/campfire out to La Gringa.

Traditions before the lights went out? find your flash light and t.p.

This has been a great thread.

P<*)))><

Skipjack Joe - 9-30-2007 at 09:31 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Paulina

Traditions before the lights went out? find your flash light and t.p.

P<*)))><


What's a t.p.? Or should I ask?

Paulina - 9-30-2007 at 09:34 PM

Toilet paper. With a flash light and a roll of toilet paper over the handle end you could rule your evening!

P<*)))><

bajaboolie - 10-1-2007 at 12:15 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Wiles

Roll call just to make sure all people and pets are aboard, head for the border.



Good idea! One time we drove down when I was a kid, we stopped for a bathroom break in the middle of nowhere. We got back in the car and drove for half an hour before we realized our little dog wasn't with us!! We were panicked driving back, but she was just standing there waiting for us. That didn't happen twice.:rolleyes:

Martyman - 10-1-2007 at 02:11 PM

We usually ball & jack it to our intented location but we try to stop for a night at Cielito Lindo for 30wt crab and a few shots on the beach. We also will try to hit Ensenada on the way back for a party night. Were hangin out in Hussongs waiting for the ranchero band with the blind accordion player. They are the best!! I try to get a seafood coctel along the way.

Skipjack Joe - 10-1-2007 at 02:22 PM

One game we often play is counting crosses. The driver gets his half of the road and the passenger gets the other. A church cemetery counts as 3.

I'm guessing that Mexicans believe that a cross must be placed right where the person has perished in order for him/her to be able to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Over the years there has been quite an accumulation of roadside crosses. This summer we saw far fewer along the highway. Perhaps the government decided that they were just too gruesome to look at or perhaps they just don't want travelers to be constantly reminded of the dangers of that road. Anyway, it seemed to me that there has been an attempt at creating little monuments along the way that stood for several crosses in a section of the highway - sort of a symbolic cross. I wonder if baja residents feel that this accomplishes their religious desires.

These were my thoughts as the miles passed by ...

Paulina - 10-1-2007 at 02:37 PM

Igor,

We used to play the counting cross game too, until they got too numerous to count. I once thought about making a coffee table book of all the unique monuments we've seen. What a rough job that would have been, having to drive all over baja taking photos for my book!

We used to count dead cows like Wiles did, but after one particular gruesome horse my daughter was over that tradition too.

P<*)))><

Skipjack Joe - 10-1-2007 at 02:51 PM

Paulina,

Have you seen a reduction of crosses or is that my imagination?

Do you share my thoughts about why they put up those crosses?

We have migrant workers here in HMB and I would see a cross appear now and then but Caltrans takes them down very quickly. So this must be fairly important to the Mexicans.

Paulina - 10-1-2007 at 03:17 PM

That is a good question, maybe calls for it's own thread? I don't know if there's a reduction to the crosses, or if we've just become acclimated to them?

I remember a trip with my parents to San Feliepe in the 60s in which my mom made my dad pull the camper/bike trailer over almost every time she saw one so she could take a photo. One in particular was bright blue, I don't know why I remember that one, but she was quite impressed, my dad was quite over it, and it is still stuck in my mind.

I have seen places were the crosses were removed due to construction, power lines etc, only to be relocated further back from the road. With the highway paved better than ever, we tend to drive faster and not take the time to smell the creosote bush or notice the road side memorials like we used to. Maybe that could be it?

To answer your questions, I don't know if they are falling in numbers. I also don't know the meaning, or why they are put up. Is it religious, Catholic? Is it cultural?

I remember living in L.A. and a newspaper article in the Times regarding this topic. Some were against it, including my ex-husband. His arguement was that if the Hispanics were allowed to follow their cultural traditions in death, then maybe he should be allowed to follow his, being burned upon his death and sent afloat upon the L.A. river...I can't say that I'm not for that happening to him now....I just don't want to be held guilty for his early demise.

Back to topic, I do know that the monuments are getting more and more personalized and I like that. Hector comes to mind. I've seen another big rig besides Hector recently, but didn't yell at Dern to pull over like my mom used to harangue my dad. Maybe I should have learned from that....

P<*)))><

Skipjack Joe - 10-1-2007 at 03:26 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Paulina
I've seen another big rig besides Hector recently, but didn't yell at Dern to pull over like my mom used to harangue my dad. Maybe I should have learned from that....

P<*)))><


Yes I think you should have because ...

well behaved women rarely make history

those crosses

Boshvideo - 10-1-2007 at 03:49 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Paulina
I once thought about making a coffee table book of all the unique monuments we've seen. What a rough job that would have been, having to drive all over baja taking photos for my book!





Interesting... I was thinking of making a video of that very subject. I'd love to get some real life stories behind some of those crosses. Where would you start?

[Edited on 10-1-2007 by Boshvideo]

Paulina - 10-1-2007 at 03:54 PM

Boshvideo,

I think it should be started with a new thread.. ja ja ja!


P<0)))><

Boshvideo - 10-1-2007 at 04:17 PM

Thanks, Sorry......

Earlier I said Buffett always works &

Baja Bernie - 10-1-2007 at 08:59 PM

here is what I mean...for some reason his song 'Mr. Paperman (Kinja rules is another title)always reminds me of Baja...perhaps it is the water......here are the lyrics

Mista paper, senator pullman he just call.
He ask how come ya don need no watah

Norman
Don’t need water!

Lorna
Well, you let the barge go by
He comin’ to talk to you

Norman
Who is senator pullman anyway?
Why do I have to signal the barge?

Iris
Welcome to the caribbean, put on a shirt at least.
The big enchilada is on his way

Senator pullman
Mr. norman paperman, I presume?
Joinin’ us in kinja for de tourist boom?

Norman
Norman paperman at your service.
Meeting the kingpin, I’m slightly nervous

Pullman
Mr. paperman, I here to be your friend
But there’s just certain rules here we can not bend

Paperman how about the water? my cistern’s flat.

Pullman
Why sure, I come to take care of dat

Chorus
But you gotta play by kinja rules
Forget about da tings you learned in school
We use a different box of tools
And you gotta play by kinja rules

Pullman
Now dis alien ain’t bonded for no gondolier
He’s bonded for gardener-dat why he here
De chief of immigration a power in dis town
Chief find out-your hotel close down

Paperman
Hereafter gardening’s all he’ll do I didn’t know, I swear to you

Pullman
Doan’ hoross yourself, it’s okay mister
De chief of immigration-she’s my sister

Chorus
But you gotta play by kinja rules
Forget about that civics course you learned in school
We ain’t city folks, but we ain’t fools
And you gotta play by kinja rules

Pullman
Stop!

Paperman
How about my water?

Pullman
Hold you hosses I come to dat
Look at da chambermaid, she mighty fat
And if dat alien have her baby here
Dat baby an american, free and clear
De secretary of interior, he gonna rave
And dat baby on your record
From da cradle to da grave
Your responsibility-i doan mean maybe
Da bottom line sir, dat your baby

Chorus
You gotta play by kinja rules
Forget about da tings you learned in school
We use a simple box of tools
And you gotta play by kinja rules

Paperman
I’ll send her away-but this club’s bone dry

Pullman
No problem, lots of watah you can buy

Paperman
Buy water, senator?
That’s your advice?

Pullman
Chief of public works give you a special price

Paperman
Chief of public works
Who’s he-your brother?

Pullman
Ha ha, not bad she’s lorna’s mother

Chorus
So you gotta play by kinja rules
Forget about da tings you learned in school
We use a different box of tools
And you gotta play by kinja rules

Paperman
Senator, I thank you.
Now one thing’s clear
I’ve got to hire a kinjan gondolier

Pullman
Now dat a problem-

Paperman
What’s the reason

Pullman
No unemployment-it’s high season
Can’t hire no kinjan to wear dis hat

Paperman
And I can’t use an alien?

Pullman
Don’t ask dat

Paperman
You’ve been a great help, sir-you’ve got my vote
Just tell me-who’s going to row that boat?

Pullman
You gotta play by kinja rules
Forget about da tings you learned in school
Just take it easy, play it cool
But be sure to

Paperman joins pullman

Play by kinja rules

Extra chorus
You gotta play by kinja rules
Forget about that civics course you learned in school
God watches out for drunks and fools
But forget the ten commandments here
Kinja rules
Kinja rules
Kinja rules
Kinja rules

Pullman
Norman paperman, I feel you soon adjust to kinja, haha

Mr Paperman is based on an ad man from New York who opts out of the rat race,,,after a heart attack...and heads south.

For me it works so well. Even old guys can listen to the words and apply them.

Paulina - 10-4-2007 at 12:53 PM

So Igor,
Where is that parking spot?
P<*)))><

wiltonh - 10-4-2007 at 08:26 PM

Traveling traditions are always fun to think about. When I was a kid we would leave Washington State and travel to Mexico or Baja every other year over Christmas. We had a number of things we did to pass the time.

1. We competed to see who could find all the letters of the alphabet in order, on signs and license plates we saw along the way.

2. We would buy a box of tangerines with the easy to peel skins. The goal was to peel one completely so that the skin came off in one piece. You might have to eat a bunch before you got one to peel right but that was okay.

3. We counted the number of dead dogs and compared that with the number of dead horses and cows to see who was the loser this trip.

4. Someone was tasked to check the gas pump to see that it was set to zero before we filled with gas. That same person was given a cheap calculator which they carried while they looked at the numbers. It always amazed me how well the gas attendant could do exchange rate conversions in their head. Later we switched to just paying in Pesos.

5. We would always spend a little time thinking about the current exchange rate so that when you looked at a price you could do some level of conversion in your head. If I remember correctly our first trip was in the early 60s and the exchange rate was about 8 pesos to a dollar.

6. At that time no one in our family spoke Spanish so my mother decided that we needed to be able to count in Spanish. We spent a bunch of time with all the kids counting together until everyone could do it from memory. Once this was complete, one of the adults would say give me a 9 in Spanish. The first kid to come up with the answer was the winner.

7. When car stereos got cassettes in them, we loaded up with a big box of cassettes and listened to music.

Now for some current traditions:

1. Preparation for a trip starts much earlier in the year. We installed a CD player in the dash that plays MP3s. We then made a bunch of MP3 music CDs that take about 10 hours to play each one.

2. Music was great but ebooks were even better. We would borrow sets from people and that made the miles go by fast.

3. Sometimes we would get a lecture course on CD and listen to that. The issue here is everyone has to be interested in the subject or it does not work well.

4. There is a place about half way between the border and Ensenada where the toll road gets next to the beach. It has a pull out and parking on both sides of the road. We often pull out there and buy a plastic glass full of fruit covered with chili powder. If you have never tried this and like any type of hot food, give it a try.

5. About 2 or 3 years ago we came across an incredible free resource on the internet and traveling has never been the same since.
http://www.librivox.org
On this site there is a catalog. In it you will find book titles that you can download for free. ( These are legal downloads ). As of today there are over 1300 books that are complete. The books are all older than about 1923 so they are now in the public domain. Readers from all over the world read these books into their computers and then publish the results. Some readers are better than others but we have come to enjoy just about all of them. You can get about 3 standard length books on one CD. This means you can have a library with you and it takes up very little room.

There is one issue which just about got us in big trouble. We were engrossed in a Mark Twain book and just about ran out of gas. This was in the states so were able to pull off at the next exit. If it had been in Baja we would have been stuck along the road somewhere.

I have probably downloaded 50 or 60 books from this site and have listened to more than half of them. They really make the miles fly by.

That is enough for now. Wilton

Sallysouth - 10-4-2007 at 09:02 PM

Back to traveling with animals, In the early 80's we had a big black cat named Stokley (after Stokley Carmicheal) and he would travel with us from norther;)n Cal (snow country) to Baja each year.We had a sweet little Airstream, all re-done by my dear ol Dad, and the toilet was in the very rear .This big ol hairy cat would wrap himself around that toilet seat and when we stopped for lunch in the middle of the desert or wherever, he would just jump out and go for a walk.So we make our sammies, a margi, and set up our chairs .We traveled with my parents back then and it had become a ritual, stopping at Catavina and Coyote.Well, this big ol Cat learned how to come to a whiste and a call, never "here kitty kitty"! He knew his name and knew it was time to quit chasing lizards and jump back in the Airstream!! I think he was kind of a "catdog".He also taught himself how to use the toilet, no help whatsoever!Never learned how to flush tho...And that is one of my stories of Drive down traditions ;)