BajaNomad

Algodones, last time in Baja for some time to come

bryanmckenzie - 8-5-2012 at 11:31 AM

Upon moving back east, I wanted to stop one last time and walk across into Mexico. Hmmm, I can't remember the last time I only walked across. May 1 ... international worker's day holiday. Bad day to deal with borders. Does a 90-minute walkabout count towards a trip report?

Mexicali ... Calexico was slammed with Mexicans shopping; bad idea to cross. The pedestrian return line was 2+ hours.

Moving on to Algodones was a blessing and a pleasant surprise, as I'd never been there. Neat, strange little border town. Dentists & eye doctors hawking their services every 20 paces or so, 2-3 per block. WOW! :O

I spent about 90 minutes there shopping 2 bottles of Kahlua, Rx's and a few gifts.

Pedestrian wait time you ask? Zero. Nada. None. Zilch. Non-existent. I was asked to step aside into secondary; was asked 3 questions. Not searched/inspected. 12 minutes later, I'm on my way. Kewl! :spingrin: I had way more than I should have.

Here's a few pictures of the fast hit & run event.

































[Edited on 2012-8-5 by bryanmckenzie]

[Edited on 2012-8-5 by bryanmckenzie]

woody with a view - 8-5-2012 at 11:38 AM

when i was working in yuma a bunch of guys would drive down to a sports bar with a, ahem, twist! supposedly it was a strip/hooker/caliente racing bar. i never went. who wants to be hung over when it's 105 at 9am and you've got 2 houses of interior doors to install that day?

i can remember drinking 3 gallons of water a day and not peeing once. it all sweat out before it got that far!:no:

desertcpl - 8-5-2012 at 11:45 AM

any one remember the Green Door

bryanmckenzie - 8-5-2012 at 04:59 PM

Green Door? Do tell ...
Quote:
Originally posted by desertcpl
any one remember the Green Door


thebajarunner - 8-5-2012 at 06:05 PM

My late father hated Mexicans (my wife is from Jalisco)
Loved Algodones
His dentist was there,
his pharmacist

They never asked for papers on his dog when he crossed.

He would never, ever cross over into TJ or Tecate, but he treated Algodones like a second home town.

go figure....

willardguy - 8-5-2012 at 06:14 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bryanmckenzie
Green Door? Do tell ...

Quote:
Originally posted by desertcpl
any one remember the Green Door


hey! is that marilyn chambers back there?

durrelllrobert - 8-5-2012 at 06:24 PM

How hot (temperature) was it when you were there :lol:

bajario - 8-6-2012 at 04:51 AM

We put the bullet proof glass and windows in the extended part of the customs building there a couple of years ago. One of the guys put his bags down on the floor and went to lunch. Came back and picked them up and found a scorpion maybe 7-8" long. It was straight out of a sci-fi movie. Never seen one half the size again.

desertcpl - 8-6-2012 at 07:49 AM

I some of you might have guessed I live in Yuma
and go to Alogones alot over the years, alot of great restaurants, dentists, street food, its easy to get in and out

we like to take in the Green Door, not for the treats, but to people watch, when we take company to Algondes we usually hit the place, its a hoot,, its more of some thing to do and its different

bryanmckenzie - 8-8-2012 at 02:41 PM

I'm still not sure what The Green Door is.
I was being silly and just posted a graphic I found online, thinking it might be adult entertainment.
Quote:
Originally posted by desertcpl
I some of you might have guessed I live in Yuma
and go to Alogones alot over the years, alot of great restaurants, dentists, street food, its easy to get in and out

we like to take in the Green Door, not for the treats, but to people watch, when we take company to Algondes we usually hit the place, its a hoot,, its more of some thing to do and its different





[Edited on 2012-8-8 by bryanmckenzie]

desertcpl - 8-8-2012 at 03:36 PM

your right it is adult entertainment

bar , dance floor and cheap hotel above the bar

lots of hookers, one time alot of he/shes

in the after noons and evening the girls put on stripper shows

Ken Cooke - 8-8-2012 at 04:26 PM

I *almost* visited Algondones on foot - at dusk. I walked up to the border gate, saw the hoardes of people standing near the entrance, the dilapidated streets, and got a funny feeling to "keep moving along." It looks a bit like Mexicali on a smaller scale.

daveB - 8-8-2012 at 09:15 PM

We visit Los Algodones every winter (that`s when the lineups get long) sometimes we do mulitple trips. Last time there the line to go north was again looking very long... so we stood in line for the rickshaw (bicycle contraption) for the first time, not the fastest choice that day, but a bit more comfortable. Once seated on one you by-pass all the gates and most of the officialdom to be met roadside by a Customs Officer then dropped off right at the walkway to the parking lot. The rickshaw driver has to show his passport as well, as he crosses by a few yards into USA. I think we payed about 5 dollars each.

Tourism drops like a heavy stone once April begins to wear out and snowbirds are on their way home.

[Edited on 8-9-2012 by daveB]

bryanmckenzie - 8-31-2012 at 06:43 PM

Hey Ken, how do you "almost walk" into Algodones? From the casino? Otherwise, it's a car trip from the freeway and beyond, no?
Quote:
Originally posted by Ken Cooke
I *almost* visited Algondones on foot - at dusk. I walked up to the border gate, saw the hoardes of people standing near the entrance, the dilapidated streets, and got a funny feeling to "keep moving along." It looks a bit like Mexicali on a smaller scale.

durrelllrobert - 8-31-2012 at 07:07 PM

Evertime I go to Algondones A pick up at least one , but usually 2 or 3 CASES of very good quality vodka that they sell for around $3/liter. Of course I drive home on the MX side via Rumrosa - Tecate - Ensenada. Makes it worth while not to mention Rx, glasses, dental or whatever else I need

[Edited on 9-1-2012 by durrelllrobert]