BajaNomad - Selling friends/family on Baja ain't easy...

Selling friends/family on Baja ain't easy...

Ken Cooke - 10-27-2008 at 06:35 PM

A new co-worker of mine originally comes from Lima, Peru. Her husband, a US Marine and her have planned to visit San Felipe for their 1st Anniversary. Their interests - peace, soletude, the sun, sand, quads, dirt, etc.

Talking them into going to San Felipe - as their perfect destination wasn't easy. The husband was very nervous about traveling south of the border - for good reason. But, with a Spanish/English-fluent wife, a love for riding quads, playing in the sand, swimming, fishing, etc. I couldn't think of any reason why this wouldn't be the ideal getaway.

Selling Baja to friends hasn't been easy as of late. Any comments?

Udo - 10-27-2008 at 06:51 PM

Quote:

KEN

You should have seen the looks I got when I told my friends and family that my wife and I went to Tijuana a couple of weeks ago for the Tequila Expo!

although I have to thank FDT (Fernando) for the heads up about the Expo...IT REALLY WAS WORTH THE TIME, and the food was unbelievable!

[Edited on 10-28-2008 by udowinkler]

David K - 10-27-2008 at 07:15 PM

It's fun to see the expressions, for sure!

Udo - 10-27-2008 at 07:17 PM

You've got that correct, David!

DrTom - 10-27-2008 at 07:47 PM

im kinda glad about that.....just asoon they stay back up north....we'll see em soon enough...

movinguy - 10-27-2008 at 08:05 PM

Yeah - couldn't get too many takers on the Rosarito/Ensenada ride this year. But . . .

Do I LOOK like I'm having fun???? :smug:

Mango - 10-27-2008 at 08:57 PM

Maybe the hard sell is a good thing for some people. Mexico is infectious.

Unfortunately, your friends most likely now suffer from NBS (north of the border syndrome) like the rest of us. :lol:

There is only one known cure!

gnukid - 10-27-2008 at 09:23 PM

Why don't you mention the MARGARITAS, FRESH FISH, FRIENDS, OFF-ROADING, MOTO-RIDES, KITE-SURFING, HUGE PARTIES WITH MEXICANS, THRIFTY ICECREAM, LOBSTER, SHRIMP, FRESH VEGGIES WITH FLAVOR, ENDLESS STEAKS AND BBQ CHICKEN, PAPAS RELLENAS, TACOS, CERVECA, SIESTAS, CHURROS and SCORPIANS!

Ken Cooke - 10-27-2008 at 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gnukid
Why don't you mention the MARGARITAS, FRESH FISH, FRIENDS, OFF-ROADING, MOTO-RIDES, KITE-SURFING, HUGE PARTIES WITH MEXICANS, THRIFTY ICECREAM, LOBSTER, SHRIMP, FRESH VEGGIES WITH FLAVOR, ENDLESS STEAKS AND BBQ CHICKEN, PAPAS RELLENAS, TACOS, CERVECA, SIESTAS, CHURROS and SCORPIANS!

I usually do. This doesn't compare in sensationalism with PRIMER IMPACTO or OCCURIO ASI. :rolleyes:

geobas - 10-27-2008 at 09:54 PM

Quote:

Oh, you must live in SoCal too...especially that part about the huge parties with Mexicans.
:rolleyes:

tjBill - 10-27-2008 at 11:11 PM

I've given up trying convince people that baja is not dangerous.

I just tell them how much I like it; which is true. Then they become intrigued. :light:

[Edited on 10-28-2008 by tjBill]

mtgoat666 - 10-28-2008 at 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken Cooke
Selling Baja to friends hasn't been easy as of late. Any comments?

Mexico has a PR problem, and urban border areas appear to have real problems.

Stories coming out of Rosarito and Tijuana give me pause. Hard to augue with warnings telling you not to drive on streets after sundown in the border towns. People with little experience in Mexico should heed warnings. Would you recommend a newbie travel thru TJ-Rosarito area after dark? And if everyone tells you to get off road after dark, would you want to visit in daytime?

Why would a newbie understand that rural areas are different than urban areas? Do you tell newbies: "Just drive thru TJ with windows up and armored doors, you'll be safe as soon as you get past San Quentin." :lol:

Debra - 10-28-2008 at 01:31 PM

I know what you mean, you can imagine the looks and comments I get, especially since I'm a woman traveling solo.

Ken Cooke - 10-28-2008 at 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mtgoat666Why would a newbie understand that rural areas are different than urban areas? Do you tell newbies: "Just drive thru TJ with windows up and armored doors, you'll be safe as soon as you get past San Quentin." :lol:

On my Baja Grande event, we just travel in tandem. No problems - except for the crooked cop in Tecate that tried shaking down one of the Jeep drivers while 13 other Jeep drivers stood around and watched. This gave the officer pause when he saw the entire street backed up in both directions with Jeeps staring at him. :lol:

Russ - 10-28-2008 at 05:58 PM

Ken, 13 Jeep drivers staring down one crooked cop! Now that would have been a picture!
Your friends need to watch that DVD on the Vaqueros. Can't remember the title but it was talked about here.

Make sure they bring their meds

Dave - 10-28-2008 at 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken Cooke
Their interests - peace, soletude, the sun, sand, quads, dirt, etc.

Anyone who likes peace, solitude and quads is confused. Perhaps bipolar?

Ken Cooke - 10-28-2008 at 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Russ
Ken, 13 Jeep drivers staring down one crooked cop! Now that would have been a picture!

It was a real tense moment, and we couldn't believe he actually yelled at all of us to leave Tecate, but we joked about it all the way to La Rumorosa on the CB radios.

55steve - 10-29-2008 at 08:41 PM

Most of my friends think I'm totally insane every time I tell them I'm heading south. My family will probably never venture down with me...oh well!

Skipjack Joe - 10-29-2008 at 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken Cooke
Their interests - peace, soletude, the sun, sand, quads, dirt, etc.

Anyone who likes peace, solitude and quads is confused. Perhaps bipolar?

I think they're the same people staying at the campsite next to yours that have the car doors open with the stereo blasting late into the night.

CortezBlue - 10-30-2008 at 08:35 AM

I think it is 50/50

It seems to me that either everyone either thinks it is way cool and can't wait to come down. The other half would NEVER cross the border. I met an elderly couple, in their 80's, and the husband was very interested in what we were doing in Mexico, but his wife was saying that there was no way he was going to Mexico. However, after talking with them a little more, they had just returned from spending 6 weeks doing missionary work in Turkey??

bajabound2005 - 10-30-2008 at 09:13 AM

We don't drive after dark not because of possible violence, but because the roads are unforgiving, half of the drivers don't use their headlights, or if they do, they are not aimed properly; signage is poor (if there is any at all); and the roads are poorly marked (lines, etc).

CaboRon - 10-30-2008 at 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajabound2005
We don't drive after dark not because of possible violence, but because the roads are unforgiving, half of the drivers don't use their headlights, or if they do, they are not aimed properly; signage is poor (if there is any at all); and the roads are poorly marked (lines, etc).

And please add ..... "you can't see a black cow in the dark ".

CaboRon

Ken!

toneart - 10-30-2008 at 01:00 PM

You are selling your friends and family??

Ken Cooke - 10-30-2008 at 05:43 PM

Quote:

I like to blazes my KC Daylighters on Hwy 1 along w/my Hella ff50s so that I can see oncoming vehicles. With all of this wattage, I can spot them about 2 miles away, then I kill the beams, adjust to normal lighting, and let them pass. Going around corners can be problematic, though. North of Laguna Chapala, I met with 2 deer - one head-butted my Rubicon, severely denting the lower portion of my door. One of these days, I'll get it fixed.

Sheetmetal still intact:

Ken Cooke - 10-30-2008 at 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by toneart
You are selling your friends and family??

Of course! I'm leading a 4WD trip in 3 weeks down "The Baja."

rogbag - 11-1-2008 at 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken Cooke

Quote:

Originally posted by toneart
You are selling your friends and family??

Of course! I'm leading a 4WD trip in 3 weeks down "The Baja."

"Learn what the gypsies have known for years - it's legal to sell your children in Arizona!" ...from Drew Hastings.
I've been telling the girlfriend's kids and grandkids that for the last 5 years. Hasn't done a bit of good....they are still a pain-in-the-rear.