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mcfez
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by mcfez
DENNIS...have always respected your viewpoints...and outright harsh statements 
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Thanks, Bro........I'm not having such a good day, so I'll call it an evening.
G'nite. |
Good night my Baja Buddy. Sleep well and dream of naked girls dancing in your lap :-)
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by mcfez
Good night my Baja Buddy. Sleep well and dream of naked girls dancing in your lap :-) |
Thanks. I'll try.
In the meantime, allow me to give you some bathroom reading material to ponder. This was posted on Fulano's but I found it elsewhere as well.
Please take the time to read it:
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Innocent US Citizen Spends 66th Birthday in Tijuana Jail
Edit Article | Posted: Sep 28, 2010 Duopolio de TV confunde libertad de expresión c/ libertad de presión
www.Blog.Telmex.com
The following is a true story of a scary and heart pounding incident that took place in the border town area of Tijuana Mexico. Some might site it as
an example of the reason people are afraid to come to Mexico. Some might be warmed by the outcome and those that contributed to it. …… you be the
judge.
It happened to U.S. citizens Pete and Rosemary Morris. The Morris's, married for over 27 years, are residents of Mission Viejo California, but have
also owned a beach condo in Mexico 7 miles south of Rosarito Beach for over 20 years. They have been coming to their condo most every Friday through
Sunday and returning to Mission Viejo Monday through Thursday.
However, last week was going to be special. Rosemary declared – "It's my birthday this Thursday. I think I should take my first ever Thursday off from
work, leave around 5:30pm, and get to our Villas Marena condo in time to watch the season premier of ‘Survivor', and have the whole day Thursday to do
whatever for my 66th birthday".
Pete had already given her a kitchen makeover for her main present, but had worked especially hard on a purse-size family photo album. He figured that
being off Thursday for her birthday, he could make a special deal with the extra gift, some flowers, and coffee…. all delivered in bed. It would be a
perfect start to a birthday weekend.
So at 5:30pm, off they went in their 4 Runner "mexicar" --- Rosemary, her husband Pete, and their two cats – Misty and Little Bug.
There was no traffic to speak of. They arrived at the Mexico border at 7pm. However, on the Tijuana side, there was a problem at the side road
leading to the toll road. Police had stopped entrance to the turn off, leaving them to go into town and find a way to either the toll road or
Rosarito. (It would later become an important factor that Thursday and Friday were being celebrated for the - the 200th Anniversary of the
Independence of Mexico from the Spanish.)
Not sure of the correct route, they found their way into the hills of south-east Tijuana. Rosemary, who was driving, decided to stop and ask someone
at a local grocery store how to find the way to the toll road. A friendly man, who spoke both English and Spanish fluently, explained how to get
there. He said – "you will come to a stop sign. Then, you'll see a cemetery on your left and a steep hill on your right, then ….."…….. and so on, and
so forth.
Thinking they had found their way at last, Rosemary thanked the man and drove off. She stopped at the sign, preceded at about 15-20 mph. After about
200 feet ---the hopes for a birthday weekend came crashing down.
Out of the steep hill on our right came a young male bike rider….. going at full speed…. with no apparent intention on stopping or slowing down….. and
crsash …. smashed into the side of our 4 Runner…. Flying over the hood and landing on the ground. All of this in about 1.5 seconds.
Pete was to later recall – "In all of about 0.5 of a second: I saw this 15-18 year old boy racing off the hill towards our car; pictured him injured;
and though it would not be our fault, Rosemary would have to go to jail because an injury will be involved'; my celebration plans for her Birthday
would be ruined.
It was 7:30pm
Rosemary, after stopping the car, exited and yelled at the young boy, who was trying to subsequently run away, to "Lay down" then yelled to bystanders
"Call the police. Polizia". Rosemary felt secure in knowing she was innocent of any wrong doing, and had insurance that would pay for any lawyer,
bond, impound, or other fees.
7:40pm
The Police started arriving, along with an ambulance. There were at least ten government vehicles on the scene. Rosemary was put in a squad car and
Pete was allowed to drive the 4 Runner fully escorted by 3 Police trucks to the Las Playas Police Station.
7:50pm
Pete arrived at Las Playas station. He was asked to leave his car. Pete informed the deputy that they had two cats that could not be left. The deputy
took the car keys but allowed Pete to remain with the car. He was as nervous as he had ever been….. wondering what had happened to his wife.
In the meantime, Rosemary had been taken to another accident first, then to two other Police stations in Tijuana, then to get gas, then finally to the
Police station in Las Playas. She was treated well . The Police officer spoke perfect English, was very professional and respectful. Never once did
Rosemary have any concern for her safety.
Rosemary, while with the Police officer, started calling friends. Of course all out friends go to bed early so she just started leaving messages to
pick up the phone. Our dear neighbor saw the blinking light on her answer machine and heard my distressful please pick up. She started calling all
our phone lines. (House and 2 cells) They all went to voice mail. Our neighbor later said she thought Rosemary was being kidnapped. (They have now
developed a plan that if they need help they are to say where they are and where they are going and a telephone number if possible.)
At both Police stations in Tijuana where she was taken, the Police Officer presented her case to a DA hoping to get her released instead of having
to spend the night in custody. Basically, they both said to keep her in custody. The policeman who was with her knew she was not at fault and
decided to take her to another police department in Las Playas, a community out of Tijuana that was "friendlier"(and nearer Rosarito Beach). This was
a nice officer.
9:10pm
Rosemary arrived at Las Playas. The officer had stopped at a good reception spot on the way which allowed Rosemary to again call and finally reach
Rita and David Goldberg our neighbors. She told them of her plight and asked if they could pick up Pete, the car items, and the cats. She asked Rita
if she knew where the Police Dept was located and Rita said, "No, I"ll find it, don't worry" . And hung up.
Pete, nervously waiting alone in their soon to be taken car, called Miles Smith, his old fishing partner and the most resourceful man he had ever met.
Pete explained the situation as best he knew, and said Rosemary needed Miles's help with a lawyer. Miles said not worry --- he would take care of it.
9:30pm
Rita and David show up. The 4 Runner which was packed, was unloaded and everything is put on the curb in front of the Police station. Rosemary
hearing Rita's voice asks if she can help with the cats. She was allowed to help as long as she had a Police escort. They loaded everything into
David and Rita's car, which was no small feat.
10:00pm
Rosemary is back inside the Police station. She asks for help calling her insurance adjuster. She is told he would be there in 45 minutes. While
waiting, a gentleman walks up to her and laid his hand on her shoulder and says, "A friend sent me. Do not worry. I will take care of you and I
won't leave". She had no idea who this man is or what friend sent him as at the time she was unaware that Pete had called Miles Smith.
10:30pm
The insurance adjuster arrives and informs Rosemary that she is not insured. Knowing that is impossible because she just paid the renewal two weeks
prior and the check she had written had already been cashed. The adjuster said it was probably just a clerical error and he would continue to work on
it.
The Police tell Rosemary that she is going to PGJE main jail in downtown Tijuana, and that it will be at least another 4 hours before she is
released. Pete, Rita, David decide to head back to Club Marena to unload the car and get the cats back to their home. … then return.
11:30pm – 2:00am
Locating the PGJE station was not easy. Some officer escorted everyone to the correct place. Another officer, the expert in writing accident
reports, gave us the bad news that Rosemary could not go home. She would have to stay overnight. This was like a dagger into Pete's heart.
"Stay overnight, in this jail, in Tijuana, on the night of her birthday", Pete railed. "This is not right. It is cruel".
They allowed Pete, followed by Rita, to see her. She was in better spirits than Pete.
Rita gave her a blanket, and a sweater to use as a pillow. Rosemary had only a chair in the 15X20 jail. She shared the room with a frightened young
women and a derelict male who mostly slept.
The good news was that everyone had a cell phone which allowed, especially Pete, to stay close to Rosemary. The bad news was that the phones had
limited battery power and calling had to be monitored.
Meanwhile, another insurance adjuster shows up and again confirms that she has no insurance even though she has an insurance card. Of course always
assuming the worst, she wonders if the Insurance broker kept the money and did not get a carrier. She always paid extra for lawyer fees, impound
fees, and bail fees. To not have these things would be a disaster. For future reference, your policy should always be attached to your proof of
insurance card.
Both Rita and Pete would say --- "She was incredible. She was full of humor, and hope. Not much shakes her." At least she seemed that way on the
outside.
2:00am
Knowing she is in for the night, cell phones declining, and everyone very tired --- Pete, Rita, and David called "goodnight" and left for their condo.
The attorney promises to be back first thing in the morning. Pete calls her often. He fell asleep at 3:30am.
5:30am - Thursday, Sept 16 - Rosemary's Birthday
Rosemary called Pete from her jail cell and said that he ought to wait until 9:00am so he could talk with Eduardo, and also that it would take a few
hours before the paper work would be ready. Pete gathers magazines and some books, and makes coffee. Then he went over to Rita and David's.
9:00am – 3:00pm
Pete, Rita, David go to PGJE bringing the coffee, some food, books, and most important, a fresh charged cell phone.
Pete first went in to see his wife. She was happy to get the items that were brought. She seemed in good spirits. She said emphatically – "Go find our
lawyer. He is wearing a red shirt. He is an ‘Angel'…. our ‘Angel'." She further informed Pete that their "Angel" told her she could get out anywhere
from 4 – 12 hours. And, that this was a holiday and that the usual time to get out would be next Monday. But, he assured her he was pushing every
friend he had (and he had many) to get bail.
In their jail-cell meeting, Rosemary told Pete that the Lawyer said the route to go was to get Bail and get out of there and go home. He told her that
the Judge would not rule on the petition of "not guilty" (which would mean she could go free without any bail)….until late Friday because it was a
holiday and if that was missed….she would have to stay in jail until Monday. The lawyer had told her that they get the experts to report that upon
investigation of the car, verify she was not guilty. Then ask for a low bail. Then, get the money and get out of there.
With the plan now known, Pete knew what he had to do--- follow the Lawyer like his shadow as he twisted arms and pulled in favors. That is exactly
what Pete did the rest of the day.
Rita next went in and was allowed to spend almost an hour talking with Rosemary. Rita was allowed to sing the song -- Las Mananitas, in Spanish, which
is the Happy Birthday song. It just happened to also be the secretary's Birthday. (This is probably the reason she was allowed to stay an hour.)
The lawyer talked the inspector into going to see the car and write the report…. Immediately.
The Inspector and the Lawyer came back from seeing the car. The lawyer gave Pete a thumbs up. Now he had to get the bureaucrats to write the report.
Different arms to twist. Luckily, the typist was the in- house birthday girl.
Pete and the Lawyer kept calling their Insurance Agent to straighten out the Insurance snafu. If it could not be straightened out, Pete would have to
come up with what the bail was going to be.
In the meantime, Miles was calling, Eduardo was calling, and the Governor was calling. The lawyer was on three phones at once.
Pete's cell was running out of juice.
Then Rosemary's family started finding out. She got calls from sisters, daughters, sons, grandkids, and friends. Then her cell phone started to go
dry.
Then the biggest surprise of all was our cleaning lady, her daughter Marari , her daughter Bernice who they are God-Parents to…… and all their
brothers, sisters, husbands and wives….. all drove out to see Rosemary….. all the way from Primo Tapia... ten of them. Mirari is the daughter of
Rosemary's cleaning lady but much more; they are like a second family. Rosemary and her friends have known Marari since she was a little girl, her
father works as a security guard at the Club Marena development for over 17 years
Unfortunately, they were not allowed to see Rosemary, but they called her to let her know they were here.
The report was finally written and the Lawyer hand carried it to the Judge to get a bail number. He came back and said it would cost 10,000 pesos. He
asked: "Can you come up with that?"
Meanwhile more nefarious people were being brought into the jail which Rosemary occupied. This concerned Pete. Getting that money was critical. It was
all that was standing in the way of her freedom.
The lawyer and Pete worked on several angles at once.
(1) They could drive over to US and get money out of their bank. Two problems with this were that money had to be in pesos, and they had all left
their Sentri's back in the condos. They couldn't get pesos locally because all the banks and Cambios were closed until Monday.
(2) Miles was working on wire transferring pesos.
They had the US dollars, just not the pesos.
While the Lawyer was frantically working on the Miles approach…. And everyone was sweating bullets…..up jumped another Angel. Very meekly from the
gang that came to see Rosemary, everyone saw a hand rise and heard: "I have 10,000 pesos with me." It was Marari. She stated that she had to pay a
bill next Monday, but that we could use it. Everyone was flabbergasted.
The Lawyer took the money, went inside to the clerk, and gave her the money. And out of the jail room into the main office came Rosemary. The tears
were flowing as she saw everyone, especially her adopted family.
She could not come out into the waiting room yet. She had to answer questions and sign the release being typed very fast…. of course…. by the Birthday
employee.
On the other side of the window Bernice was leaning against the glass watching Rosemary trying to hide the tears. It was a scene to remember for a
lifetime.
Then out she came. She was free. Hugs all around. Pete waited last, but finally got his hug from his wife.
Now it was time to go get the car in Las Playas Tijuana.
David and Rita went home. As did Marari and her family.
The Lawyer drove Pete and Rosemary over to the station in Las Playas Tijuana. They went up to the counter and discovered that the car impound lot was
closed for the holidays.
The Lawyer drove Pete and Rosemary all the way home to their Club Marena condo.
9:30am, Friday, Sept 17
The lawyer had told Pete and Rosemary to go confront their Insurance Agent. They drove to down town Rosarito, parked in front of their Agents office,
went in ready to do battle.
Rosemary asked for the owner. They said he was not there. She then said: "I think it would be in his best interest if you got him here…now".
With that, out popped from the back room the man running the office. He knew all about the whole incident…. He said it was his mistake…. He was the
person that told the police the Morris's had no insurance. He was very sorry and assured us every expense would be taken care of.
It seems the problem was in reading dates. In the US we write month, day, year. In Mexico, they write the day first. So when he looked up the renewal
payment, it appeared not to be in effect.
He then volunteered to go with Pete and Rosemary to pay for and obtain their vehicle. When he arrive at the station to get the papers to take to the
impound lot, there was a sign posted saying cars were not available until Monday.
He offered to take us to lunch which we declined. We agreed to meet with him the following Monday get the car.
10:00am, Monday, Sept 20
Pete and Rosemary were near the end now. They could see the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. Still…. Mexico was not ready to give up so
easily.
Their agent drove them to the lot with the release to get the car out. However, it turned out that someone typed in the wrong release number.
He then went back to Las Playas Tijuana Police Dept. to have the correct number typed in. He came back to the lot. The girl there says there is still
a wrong number on the release.
So back to Playas Tijuana he goes. He came and now declares that they need Rosemary there to sign. He must go back with her to witness the other
correct number inserted.
The comedy of errors (and six trips) ends when they get back to the lot and the car is released. By this time they are all laughing at the whole
thing…. and Mexico.
Or….. are they?
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surfdoc
Nomad
Posts: 235
Registered: 8-18-2009
Location: Bahia Asuncion BCS
Member Is Offline
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Wow.............guess I picked the right spot in BCS to settle down...
Some serious opinions on here.... Ouch...
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bajabass
Super Nomad
Posts: 2016
Registered: 10-4-2006
Location: La Paz,BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Want to fish!!!
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Where you live in the U.S has as much to do with crime and corruption as it does in Mexico.
I've rented a place in La Mision for 6 years. A lot I lease in the same ejido will most likely see some type of structure soon.
Two miles south they arrested the "Soup Maker" at Baja Seasons. A day or three later the little policia substation in La Mision was shot to hell with
automatic gunfire. Robberies on the toll road, break-ins, my house included. Not too cool right now.
So, for now, I pick La Paz. I still spend time in La Mision and the Ensenada area. I won't even stop in T.J. any more, no way! I would highly suggest
that anyone who lives in a corruption/crime ridden area to move, soon! Kinda why I left Orange County
Heck, I live 15 miles out of La Paz proper, and that is too close to a city for me.
OK, back to cleaning fishing gear.
Oh, by the way, very nice looking place you have up north McFez!
Keep your eyes on the road, and your hands upon the wheel!
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sancho
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2524
Registered: 10-6-2004
Location: OC So Cal
Member Is Offline
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There is a Pollyanna, naive tone here on BN. Posters
trip over themselves gushing about what they perceive
Mex to be about. Dennis describes P Banda as mayhem,
sounds harsh, but he is reporting it as it happens around him,
he's not some guy from So Cal with a week off going
fishing at LA Bay. But I don't think the corridor from TJ
to Ensenada is typical of Baja
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bajabass
Super Nomad
Posts: 2016
Registered: 10-4-2006
Location: La Paz,BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Want to fish!!!
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Bingo!
Keep your eyes on the road, and your hands upon the wheel!
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
Member Is Offline
Mood: Optimistic
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I have lived in the Mulege area for almost 40 years..seasonally from November to June...every year. That a bunch of experience, cuz I'm a gregarious
character and get around some. Opposite of couch potato.
Dennis is closer to the truth, although he lives in Sodom and Gemorrah. Baja is what it is...a wonderous place.... but men are also what they are,
not really any different than any other place on the planet. Country folk are less prone to criminal acts than city dwellers. Simple enough and a
true fact world-wide, not just in Baja.
But even in Baja Sur, I've known locals who are/were murderers, rapists, thieves, con artists, child molesters, suicides, burglars, dopers, users,
and animal abusers. Thank God they are rare and not the normal good
folks that predominate this landscape.
Baja....It's not perfect, but what is?
Most often though, it reminds me of North Dakota....now there's a real Utopia!
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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mcfez
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
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Thanks bajabass
DENNIS....you'll see I am a member of Fulano's place. Yeah...Happy Birthday from Hell. Some story.
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
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mcfez
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
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| Quote: | Originally posted by sanquintinsince73
Very well put, Deno. |
Thanks big boy. Hope all is well with you.
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 19926
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
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i see the lonely suburbanite gringo waspy middle class is getting all gushy about mexico. happens every once in a while after drinking a few too
many glasses of 2 buck chuck and realizing you live in a cooky cutter development, don't know your neighbors names, and your kids like justin bieber
more than you.
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redhilltown
Super Nomad
Posts: 1130
Registered: 1-24-2009
Location: Long Beach, CA
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yo goat. I often agree with you but if you are going to put people down and call them drunks you really should check yer spellins and grammers...maybe
you went deep into the four buck chuck?
fez has posted enough on here that right or wrong he has paid his baja dues and can make a simple statement about hospitality. one would THINK he
could do it without having you guys (and maybe you gals) ripping him a new one.
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Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
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Wait a minute...
| Quote: | Originally posted by mcfez
Selfish, inconsiderate Mexicans
It's what I hear often.
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You do?
From whom?
I've never heard that said, even by folks who don't like Mexicans.
Mexicans are considerate and unselfish to a fault.
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mcfez
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Dave
| Quote: | Originally posted by mcfez
Selfish, inconsiderate Mexicans
It's what I hear often.
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You do?
From whom?
I've never heard that said, even by folks who don't like Mexicans.
Mexicans are considerate and unselfish to a fault. |
Well Dave
I'm very active with my life. I operate businesses. I get around Dave. Perhaps if you got your ass off that recliner chair and stop watching the game
shows all day.....you just might hear stuff yourself. Enjoy being a troll Dave?
redhilltown ...Txs.
goatly.....2 buck chuck? Funny how you know what that cheap chit is. Thunderbird is a bit better.
[Edited on 3-10-2011 by mcfez]
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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This is like the good ol' days. Fun Fun Fun. I thought everybody was dead.
Welcome back.
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mcfez
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
This is like the good ol' days. Fun Fun Fun. I thought everybody was dead.
Welcome back. |
Your right DENNIS! All we need now is JR
Hell of a lot of trolls in the past day or so. I just love it when one tries to take a sentence out of context. What's the matter soulpatch and Dave
(?) ...didnt get any last night? 
I post a good ol positive topic....and you little beef steak owners have to rip it apart. Gods...what a bunch of whinny ass trolls
[Edited on 3-10-2011 by mcfez]
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
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gnukid
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4411
Registered: 7-2-2006
Member Is Offline
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There is such a thing as regional personality. Pacenos are known to be tranquil or a Chilango known to be know-it-all, Chilango's don't do
favors-never, while pretty much every Rancher on the Peninsula would be pleased to help you without ever being asked nor is compensation accepted.
Just as a New Yorker might be abrupt compared to a slower styled Northern Californian hippy. There are identifiable traits, personalities, accents and
dialect that make up regional characteristics. Canadians? Insulated? Self-centered? Americans? Arrogant and Ignorant?
Baja is known for kind people with certainly a noticeable change in personality between Baja and Baja California Sur which likely relates to
temperature, cuisine, traffic etc... Just these threads here and the posters, it's seem to come down to a noticeable difference in geographic
interpretation and style between the North and South, East and West.
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Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
Member Is Offline
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The circle of jerk
| Quote: | Originally posted by mcfez
Enjoy being a troll Dave?
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Moi?
And the point of starting this thread was...?
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bajabass
Super Nomad
Posts: 2016
Registered: 10-4-2006
Location: La Paz,BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Want to fish!!!
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Dave, you picked up on McFez's title of the thread only. He was TRYING to make a point about how welcoming the locals in San Felipe have been. Oh,
crap, maybe I was reading between the lines! NOT!
Keep your eyes on the road, and your hands upon the wheel!
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Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
Member Is Offline
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Nah...
| Quote: | Originally posted by bajabass
Dave, you picked up on McFez's title of the thread only. He was TRYING to make a point about how welcoming the locals in San Felipe have been. Oh,
crap, maybe I was reading between the lines! NOT! |
I read the whole thing. Sounded to me like the point was to pat each other on the backs because we Nomads aren't like all those other nasty Americans
in that we love and adore the most wonderful Mexican people...
Or, something close to that.
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bajabass
Super Nomad
Posts: 2016
Registered: 10-4-2006
Location: La Paz,BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Want to fish!!!
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My only answer to that is, I don't agree. I simply expect to be treated as I treat others. I have been far more frustrated in my expectations in
California than I have been in Baja!
Keep your eyes on the road, and your hands upon the wheel!
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