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CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3401
Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
Member Is Offline
Mood: Peacefull
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Two Words
Pack Heat !
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Mulegena
Super Nomad
Posts: 2412
Registered: 11-7-2006
Member Is Offline
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Seriously spoken, please do come down to Baja.
Do be aware of your surroundings.
Do pay in pesos.
Do exchange your money at the numerous banks rather than carry large amounts.
Do travel on the buses. They are clean and modern.
Do carry a light jacket while on the bus to keep warm.
Do behave courteously, modestly, respectfully at all times.
Do wear clean socks (sorry, couldn't resist this) 
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fdt
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4059
Registered: 9-7-2003
Location: Tijuana, Baja California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Yeah, what if it all goes right
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Mulegena
Seriously spoken, please do come down to Baja.
Do be aware of your surroundings.
Do pay in pesos.
Do exchange your money at the numerous banks rather than carry large amounts.
Do travel on the buses. They are clean and modern.
Do carry a light jacket while on the bus to keep warm.
Do behave courteously, modestly, respectfully at all times.
Do wear clean socks (sorry, couldn't resist this) |
Do at least try to speak the language
Do make new and lasting friends
Do eat as many types of tacos as you can find
Do disregard negative comments or advise
Do change your underwear frequently.
A well informed Baja California traveler is a smart Baja California traveler!
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15940
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
Member Is Offline
Mood: Everchangin'
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socks optional, whilst wearing flip flops!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65407
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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I don't see using pesos as being a big issue in Baja... specially when I see locals buying items in markets using dollars... Sure, use pesos and your
purchase price will be what the marked amount is...
If you have only dollars, don't let that you keep from buying in Mexico... The merchants may get a bit of a 'tip' since their rate of exchange is
probably not as low as the banks. 
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dtbushpilot
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3296
Registered: 1-11-2007
Location: Buena Vista BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Tranquilo
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If you don't want to have a problem using dollars instead of pesos don't do it. Yes, you can use dollars but you're better off, sometimes MUCH better
off using pesos. I really don't understand why you advocate using dollars in Mexico DK. I think it shows a general lack of respect and arrogance to
assume that dollars should be accepted. You are, after all in their country. Getting pesos is easy, show some respect.......
And NEVER EVER wear socks with flip-flops ......dt
"Life is tough".....It's even tougher if you're stupid.....
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Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8088
Registered: 7-12-2004
Location: Bahia Asuncion
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by vagabundo84
We always travel in groups, during the day, and dont even stop until we're south of Ensenada.
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The fact that you travel in groups should lower the probability of being assaulted to virtually zero.
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Mulegena
Super Nomad
Posts: 2412
Registered: 11-7-2006
Member Is Offline
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MINI-HIJACK | Quote: |
And NEVER EVER wear socks with flip-flops......dt |
or with a thong  
DIS-HIJACK
(o, ihatemythongwhenitshijacked!)
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mtgoat666
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 20354
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: | Originally posted by vagabundo84
We've encountered the usual Baja problems, eg. la mordida, broken down in the desert, getting drugged at bars, petty theft,...
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I have never had any of those problems, don't think they are "usual." You need to re-evaluate yourself and find out why you attract trouble.
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Out and About
Member Is Offline
Mood: It's a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Day
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Well...................
Mordida, at least, is certainly NOT unusual.
Even Mexican media has taken note of that.
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24baja
Senior Nomad
Posts: 952
Registered: 2-3-2009
Location: Grants Pass Oregon/Bahia de Los Angeles
Member Is Offline
Mood: Wishing we were in BOLA
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We are heading to BOLA this weekend, we stop for diesel in Rosarito Beach right off the toll road and don't stop until Santo Tomas, then El Rosario
for lunch at the Bus Restaurant and diesel at the Pemex at the north end of town, stop next near Catavina for a pee break and then make the turn onto
Bola road. At the View of the Bay we pull over and have cold Pacifico to celebrate the beauty before us and toast to good friend, good food and good
fishing.
We travel during the day, don't stop unnecessarily and watch at all times for funny business! We have been very lucky and haven't had a problem as
yet. We use Peso's for the most part and we feel we save money that way. If you just drive responsible, you will be okay. Have a great Trip! Brett
& Connie
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MitchMan
Super Nomad
Posts: 1856
Registered: 3-9-2009
Member Is Offline
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The best way to be safe and throw off suspicion while in a restaurant is to allow the food on your plate to touch each other. Then, use pieces of a
tortilla to scoop up the food instead of a fork. Bow your head slightly over the plate as you eat so that when food slips off the tortilla, it falls
back to the plate. Chew with conviction, deliberately and slowly to show that you choose to savor your food, because, that is what is truly
important. People watching will sense your baja authenticity. No one will bother you or consider you as a target. I must admit that I use the above
as a litmus test for authenticity.
Oh yeah, almost forgot. Use pesos...it's cheaper! Also, take at least $1,300 pesos home ($3,000 pesos is better) with you when you leave baja for
the US so that you will have Mexican spending money when you come back into baja and you can't get to a bank on your day of arrival in baja. Make
sure that you always have plenty of smaller bills. When you come into baja with only US dollars, really make sure that you have plenty of small US
bills, because you will get your change in pesos at a really, really bad exchange rate, or you will have to pay a bit more because small merchants
will sometimes feign "I don't have cambio". If I were a merchant, that would be good business practice if you can pull it off sincerely. Not limited
to Mexico, happens this way all over the world.
[Edited on 5-18-2009 by MitchMan]
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65407
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Instead of the bus stop restaurant (#16), go a bit further to TACOS MISION (#36)... inside tables, tacos, burritos, stuffed potatos to die for and
PAINTINGS!
If you want even more selection and a true restaurant (at lower prices than Espinoza's) go further to BAJA'S BEST B&B/ Restaurant, on the right
(#38)... across from the new TURISTA MOTEL
Here's a map I made in 2006 showing the businesses along Hwy. 1 in El Rosario, with restaurants highlighted...
[Edited on 5-18-2009 by David K]
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3754
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
Member Is Offline
Mood: muy amable
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As usual on this board, you got some great advice, and you got some not so great input.
"Pack Heat"
I have no idea what that posting person means by that (well, generally that person's posts are obscure anyway.)
Do not, under any circumstances, carry a firearm!
No idea how to underline and accent that point.
You are running major risks if you do,
enough said.
Change your dollars to pesos. Forget the "socially acceptable" advice. You will have enough issues with translations and conversion ratios to deal
with. Get pesos and make life a lot easier.
The ATM at the Bancomer in the north end of Maneadero used to be a great source for pesos, but last time through it was out of money.
We used the ATM on the town park in San Quintin and it worked great. The bank is on the west side of the highway, middle of town on the park.
Enjoy and don't sweat the "stuff"
Over the weekend here in our "safe American town" we had a couple of highjackings, a violent fatal burning crash a mile from my house. Lots of nasty
news.... but that is here in Gringo land,
Baja is no worse, probably better, just pay attention.
And, as to how you chew your food.....
Well, like I said, some info around here is great and some is ???????
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Woooosh
Banned
Posts: 5240
Registered: 1-28-2007
Location: Rosarito Beach
Member Is Offline
Mood: Luminescent Waves at Rosarito Beach
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I kinda like the Mexican hands-on approach to their food. They trust their own hands more than the restaurants dishwasher. I'm often pleasantly
surprised at how clean and well supplied even street taco shop restrooms are for handwashing.
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
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rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6700
Registered: 9-5-2003
Member Is Offline
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Get pesos. The people that say they spend dollars would never take pesos in their own country,,, hint on credibility, don't get taken by the Norte
Americano owned restaurant, They are what they are and attract people who are afraid of Mexico.Live Baja... You will enjoy
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
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Why stop "near Catavina" for a pee break, when you could do what thousands do and pee at the Desert Inn?
As for Mitch, man. You need to get your medication straightened out. "Throwing off suspicion in a restaurant". Really.
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Frank
Senior Nomad
Posts: 861
Registered: 6-5-2005
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Is it time to leave yet?
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Great post. I have been on the fence about coming down for awhile now. We looked at alternatives stateside and nothing was going to give us what we
wanted.
Last week we decided to just make the trip down and keep the 8 year baja streak alive! This post just confirms our decision, thanks
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Mulegena
Super Nomad
Posts: 2412
Registered: 11-7-2006
Member Is Offline
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US News Blitzkrieg
Because it bears mentioning again, I'll belabor the point just a bit more:
I live in Baja and am without television; selectively receive news via the internet.
I'm presently in Alta California for a few months. Invariably one of two things happen when I meet an acquaintance or make a new friend: People are
anxious to tell me how dangerous it is for me to live in Mexico, as if they are experts in present-day Mexican social studies. Or, conversely I am
quizzed as to how the "cartel thing is going down there" as if I'm an expert in Mexican political science.
I ask where their information is being gleaned, and am told it is from the US news. I casually answer that while their concern is appreciated,
perhaps the news is overstated.
Frankly, between you me and the delete button, I've developed the opinion that the news media in the US is doing a concerted smear of Mexico. Of that
I am clear; the why I don't know.
Yes, I am cautious and alert; this only is good sense. If I travel alone I always take extra precaution, just as I would anywhere in the world.
I could go on and on, but the message I believe we Nomads sincerely wish to send is, Come. Appreciate life and times here in Baja. Listen to your
inner-voice and follow it wisely.
Someone recently said, "You only live once, so make sure its enough."
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24baja
Senior Nomad
Posts: 952
Registered: 2-3-2009
Location: Grants Pass Oregon/Bahia de Los Angeles
Member Is Offline
Mood: Wishing we were in BOLA
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Why stop "near Catavina" for a pee break, when you could do what thousands do and pee at the Desert Inn?
Why, for the air on the behind effect of course, by this time it needs to breathe!!! |
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