Casey67
Junior Nomad
Posts: 75
Registered: 4-4-2009
Location: Bahia Concepcion
Member Is Offline
Mood: Baja Hot
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Useful gifts?
The generosity and assistance of the Mexican people is well documented in books and places like this forum. I was wondering if there was anything
beneficial (so no candy) that I could bring as gifts to return the favor.
I'll also bring a few extra cans of Tim Hortons coffee in case I run into any wayward Canucks in desperate need of a Timmies fix.
I've been lurking on the board for an eternity and may finally be heading down for 6 weeks or more; leaving roughly May 7th.
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vandenberg
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5118
Registered: 6-21-2005
Location: Nopolo
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Mood: mellow
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Just bring lotsa Moolah and leave the Horton stuff at home.
Never found anything that outfit sells worth the money yet. 
And Mexican coffee is better then theirs by far.
This from an old Maple Leaf fan from Tim's hayday.
Lived right about where he got killed.
His products don't live up to his hockeyplaying.
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15940
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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Mood: Everchangin'
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if you have the room load up some boxes or hefty bags full of all of the stuff you don't use/would give to salvation army. clothes, tools, childrens
books, toys, vcrs/dvd players, kitchen utensils.........whatever.
find someone you really like and give it all to them. what they don't use they will give to whoever needs it in the area.
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Paulina
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3812
Registered: 8-31-2002
Location: BCN
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Sometimes it helps to put all the goodies into a suitcase. If you are checked at the border, they are less likely to mess with you. If it's not a
suitcase you need to take home, leave it with the people as well.
Have a safe trip and welcome to the Nomad board!
P<*))))>{
\"Well behaved women rarely make history.\" Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Buy several soft sided suitcases or dufflebags and pack your goodies in those. After you deliver the goodies, use the bags for dirty clothes or fold
them up and pack in your regular suitcase. Have never had the duffle bags searched....trash bags are a customs magnet.
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Mango
Senior Nomad
Posts: 685
Registered: 4-11-2006
Location: Alta California &/or Mexicali
Member Is Offline
Mood: Bajatastic
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It depends where you are going.
Gifts I've given that were well received are..
-Quality tightly braided 9mm nylon rope, not the cheap crap from Ace. The guy I gave it too was ecstatic about using it for his horse.
-Buttons, needles, thread, fabric to some women.. (helps if they sew..lol traded(gave) some to women making/selling crafts)
-Soccer balls (best to give to a school/church director to avoid jealousy and for better use for all kids)
-LED flashlights and headlamps. I gave a real nice light to a old-timer running a mine tour in Guanajuato. I told him to use it or sell it to
another miner. (it ran very bright for 100 hours on 2 AA's)
-Fishing line (might be a problem with the "man" if you don't have a fishing license though)
-Small tools (block plane, wrenches, screwdrivers, etc) - Great to trade with/give to craftsmen. just make sure they are decent tools.
-White gas
-Climbing carabiners
-Books in Spanish
and well.. I always bring photos to show/share with people I meet. It really helps break the ice (photo = 1000 words.. is great when you only know a
few words). I found people always wanted to keep/have some of my photos, namely pictures of San Francisco/Golden Gate Bridge, etc..
Have a great trip and right on for thinking of other people!
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3881
Registered: 2-9-2004
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Also, you can go to the 99 cents stores and get good deals on toothbrushes, soap, aspirin, tarps, sewing kits. Thrift stores are good for bags of
little stuffed animals and toys. Tea, pasta and cans of pasta sauce are pretty inexpensive too.
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Casey67
Junior Nomad
Posts: 75
Registered: 4-4-2009
Location: Bahia Concepcion
Member Is Offline
Mood: Baja Hot
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Thanks for the great suggestions! That is more than enough to get me started.
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Sharksbaja
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5814
Registered: 9-7-2004
Location: Newport, Mulege B.C.S.
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You may think candy is a bad gift. Let me remind you that Baja has some of the worst candy on the planet.
DON\'T SQUINT! Give yer eyes a break!
Try holding down [control] key and toggle the [+ and -] keys
Viva Mulege!
Nomads\' Sunsets
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mulegemichael
Super Nomad
Posts: 2310
Registered: 12-24-2007
Location: sequim,wa. and mulege
Member Is Offline
Mood: up on step
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THE worse chocolate on the planet!
dyslexia is never having to say you\'re yrros.
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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Mood: Optimistic
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The worst ice cream on the planet!
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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Cypress
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7641
Registered: 3-12-2006
Location: on the bayou
Member Is Offline
Mood: undecided
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Gifts? Most of the folks down in Baja will give you way more "gifts" than you can give them.
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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Mood: Optimistic
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Bring Duct Tape
One can never have enough.
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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sd
Nomad
Posts: 487
Registered: 3-19-2008
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Sun hats, cold weather hats, work gloves, cold weather mittens for the kids, new shoes and boots, T Shirts, hair bands, back packs for school, small
footballs, soccer balls (don't forget air pump and needle), socks, so much more.
If you are driving down this will be a fun part of your trip handing out your gifts.
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estebanis
Nomad
Posts: 279
Registered: 11-11-2002
Location: Stuck North of the Border. They won\'t pay me
Member Is Offline
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I took down an old school Coleman White Gas Stove and Dual Mantle Lantern. My good friend and neighboor Sergio is starting to build on his $1200
dollar lot in "Colonia Vista Del Mar" north of Colonet. His wife had been cooking over a wood fire using a candle at night to see what she was doing.
We used plain ol' unleaded gas in both.
The joy on that womans face was priceless! Sergio asked several times for a fishing rod so as soon as I got home I ran out and bought him a Spining
Rod and reel combo. His son asked for Soccer Balls and non-adjustable baseball style hats. My daughters boy friend had one on last night at the Easter
dinner we rushed home for that cost $45 (that's nuts to me!). I had made Sergio a piola with some tackle I had in my box and he was so proud to show
me the nice perch he caught off the rocks out front. I can't wait to see how he does with the rod and reel although those guys can cast pretty good
with a piola.
Some pals are heading down mid-week and get to see that look of joy I so love seeing on these folks faces!
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nevadacitynurse
Newbie
Posts: 15
Registered: 1-18-2008
Location: Loreto
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Pompano
The worst ice cream on the planet! |
Loreto has an ice cream shop that is THE BEST! 
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Bwana_John
Nomad
Posts: 294
Registered: 10-17-2007
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I usually go to the pawn shop and buy a bunch of old hand tools for my Baja "Kit"
That way when they rust from camping on the beach its no big thing, and if someone needs them or someone helps me I give them away.
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Mulegena
Super Nomad
Posts: 2412
Registered: 11-7-2006
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Pompano
The worst ice cream on the planet! |
Yeah, when I come back down I'll fill up the trunk with ice cream for Pompy.
Loved the duct tape pic. I think those girls were last seen attaching that car to a U-Haul truck.
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Mulegena
Super Nomad
Posts: 2412
Registered: 11-7-2006
Member Is Offline
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Dog and Cat Food
canned or bagged
can be found at discount prices in the US
considered a luxury expense in Mexico
Give to individuals
or open and leave at municipal dumps
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