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BajaGringo
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Location: La Chorera
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Mood: Let's have a BBQ!
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Ding-Ding-Ding-Ding-Ding....
We have a winner!!!
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tigerdog
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| Quote: | Originally posted by jdtrotter
| Quote: | Originally posted by Skip_Mac
So another tribute to tolerance is sacrificed for popular paranoia. |
Nicely put. 
Tigerdog, thanks for sharing the really nice pictures of our backyard. New fence will be even uglier.
Diane |
You're welcome, Diane. Yes, the new fence will be even uglier and the sad thing (beyond the irony of razing a place called Friendship and the
historical nature of the area) is that it's unnecessary. That part of the border ceased to be an illegal immigration crossing of any import long ago
as it's patrolled to within an inch of its life already-- as was well documented here by BajaGringo  . The day we took those pictures the Border Patrol was very aware of us at all times, and we were an older very
white couple with a dog, a camera and a picnic basket who could not possibly, by any stretch of the imagination, have been doing anything sinister.
Really, I began to feel I was in some kind of gulag or George Orwell's 1984.
I'm tempted to post my photo of the bullring for you, but you've obviously seen it already many times.  For a while we thought about renting in IB (we like it there) but couldn't find a place at a reasonable price that
would allow us to bring our fur child with us.
Oh well. Sigh.
\"You know Hobbes, sometimes even my lucky rocket-ship underpants don\'t help.\" - Calvin, from Calvin and Hobbes
Visit me at Rocky Point Tides
http://rptides.blogspot.com/ |
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DianaT
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| Quote: | Originally posted by tigerdog
| Quote: | Originally posted by jdtrotter
| Quote: | Originally posted by Skip_Mac
So another tribute to tolerance is sacrificed for popular paranoia. |
Nicely put.
Tigerdog, thanks for sharing the really nice pictures of our backyard. New fence will be even uglier.
Diane |
You're welcome, Diane. Yes, the new fence will be even uglier and the sad thing (beyond the irony of razing a place called Friendship and the
historical nature of the area) is that it's unnecessary. That part of the border ceased to be an illegal immigration crossing of any import long ago
as it's patrolled to within an inch of its life already-- as was well documented here by BajaGringo . The day we took those pictures the Border Patrol was very aware of us at all times, and we were an older very
white couple with a dog, a camera and a picnic basket who could not possibly, by any stretch of the imagination, have been doing anything sinister.
Really, I began to feel I was in some kind of gulag or George Orwell's 1984.
I'm tempted to post my photo of the bullring for you, but you've obviously seen it already many times. For a while we thought about renting in IB (we like it there) but couldn't find a place at a reasonable price that
would allow us to bring our fur child with us.
Oh well. Sigh. |
With the economy, rents are down here, as are property values---besides, a big carrier, etc. is deploying which always makes for more vacancies.
Do post the picture of the bullring----please, would love to see it.
Oh, while they do patrol all of this area well, when the fog sets in, well, we have seen groups down by the rocks near Surf Camp and even abandoned
boats. Walking one day when there was an abandoned boat, a Coast Guard Investigator gave us his card and asked us to call when we saw anything. We
said of course, and yes sir, and then filed the card away.
We had lots of fun when we came back from Guatemala in an old van and had Guatemala Plates a few years back. We were in Calexico and liked driving
some of the desert dirt roads---amazing how many Border Patrol Vehicles can appear out of nowhere.
Will be waiting for the bullring pictures.
Diane
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Barry A.
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Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaGringo
One of the guys that stopped me seemed truly perplexed as he was convinced that I was involved in something sinister. Told me that there was something
"not right" about a US citizen driving a Baja plated vehicle, especially down there in that area of the border. I showed him my tarjeta de circulacion
and Baja driver's license and that only seemed to get him more upset. After 10 minutes and another agent finally showed up to tell him it was ok. The
guy still didn't want to believe it and it took a confirmation via radio from a superior to convince him to let me go. It did still bother him and I
was instructed to "leave the area". I told him that this area was listed as a park on the road signs and map and asked why was I being asked to leave?
He just told me that he was not going to ask me again and so I left.
Typical...
[Edited on 1-19-2009 by BajaGringo] |
-----the Border Patrol agent was doing his job. I would expect nothing less from him, and contrary to popular belief he is highly trained.
I worked closely with Border Patrol for 13 years in the Imperial Valley and found almost all of them to be highly professional.
Barry
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tigerdog
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I hadn't thought about the fog issue; I suppose even with the motion sensors some will slip by. I doubt the new fence will do much regarding the boats
though.
I smiled at your signature; it reminded me of my grandmother's admonishment to us when we were kids: "The intent to deceive is the same as a lie." She
was right of course.
Here's the bullring, and I've thrown in a couple of pics of flowers blooming, too. It was a great year for wildflowers.
\"You know Hobbes, sometimes even my lucky rocket-ship underpants don\'t help.\" - Calvin, from Calvin and Hobbes
Visit me at Rocky Point Tides
http://rptides.blogspot.com/ |
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BajaGringo
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Posts: 3922
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Location: La Chorera
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Barry A.
| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaGringo
One of the guys that stopped me seemed truly perplexed as he was convinced that I was involved in something sinister. Told me that there was something
"not right" about a US citizen driving a Baja plated vehicle, especially down there in that area of the border. I showed him my tarjeta de circulacion
and Baja driver's license and that only seemed to get him more upset. After 10 minutes and another agent finally showed up to tell him it was ok. The
guy still didn't want to believe it and it took a confirmation via radio from a superior to convince him to let me go. It did still bother him and I
was instructed to "leave the area". I told him that this area was listed as a park on the road signs and map and asked why was I being asked to leave?
He just told me that he was not going to ask me again and so I left.
Typical...
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-----the Border Patrol agent was doing his job. I would expect nothing less from him, and contrary to popular belief he is highly trained.
I worked closely with Border Patrol for 13 years in the Imperial Valley and found almost all of them to be highly professional.
Barry |
I also showed him my US passport, proving I was a US citizen. The area is still listed as a park, so how was he doing his job in demanding that I
leave the area???
There are some nice officers on the border patrol but as many who have to interact with them on a regular basis will tell you, they also have their
share of jerks. Just because he has a job in law enforcement doesn't give him a free pass...
[Edited on 1-19-2009 by BajaGringo]
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BajaGringo
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Great photos tigerdog - thanks for them and this thread...
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tigerdog
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| Quote: |
There are some nice officers on the border patrol but as many who have to interact with them on a regular basis will tell you, they also have their
share of jerks. Just because he has a job in law enforcement doesn't give him a free pass...
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I've found over the years-- especially the last 3 or 4-- that the older and more experienced officers tend to be nicer, more courteous and very
professional. The younger ones, newer to the game, are more likely to be, shall we say "overzealous". And you can't kid with those guys, either.
Coming across the border at Lukeville, AZ one morning we got both an older and younger guy. When asked if we were US citizens, hubby said "Yes, but
we're not sure what planet our alien friend here is from", pointing at our Pug who was sitting on my lap. The younger guy froze for a second and he
started to go into his "danger" mode before the older guy laughed and waved us on.
We learned our lesson. We never joke anymore.
\"You know Hobbes, sometimes even my lucky rocket-ship underpants don\'t help.\" - Calvin, from Calvin and Hobbes
Visit me at Rocky Point Tides
http://rptides.blogspot.com/ |
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BajaGringo
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You are right about that tigerdog - I have noticed that the majority of those who have given me a problem are the younger ones and that was the case
this day as well. The second guy who showed up was older and tried to convince him but the younger officer was convinced there was something wrong
with a Gringo driving a Baja plated vehicle in the US and would not listen to the other officer, who even rolled his eyes in disbelief that the guy
was getting this serious about the whole deal. I didn't mention that he had me out of my car, took my keys, frisked me and went through my entire
vehicle.
I was stopped by another officer ten minutes before and once I rolled down my window and we talked he just waved me on. Some of these guys just need a
bigger dose of maturity/common sense...
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Barry A.
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaGringo
You are right about that tigerdog - I have noticed that the majority of those who have given me a problem are the younger ones and that was the case
this day as well. The second guy who showed up was older and tried to convince him but the younger officer was convinced there was something wrong
with a Gringo driving a Baja plated vehicle in the US and would not listen to the other officer, who even rolled his eyes in disbelief that the guy
was getting this serious about the whole deal. I didn't mention that he had me out of my car, took my keys, frisked me and went through my entire
vehicle.
I was stopped by another officer ten minutes before and once I rolled down my window and we talked he just waved me on. Some of these guys just need a
bigger dose of maturity/common sense... |
You are completely right, of course, and I have run into the same thing several times----------still, I appreciated that they were doing their "job"
under very trying circumstances, and was never offended, tho I was amused. One time, after I showed them my Federal Agent creds. he was STILL not
convinced until his boss showed up but I much prefer they be "careful" than
"lax"----maybe because I KNOW what they go thru, and the situations they run into, which pre-loads the situations.
It just upsets me when folks get "angry" at them-------I just don't think it is worth it, either for you, or for them.
(you know, "relax, be happy")
Barry
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BajaGringo
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I didn't get angry Barry. He showed an obvious attitude the minute I rolled my window down and it became obvious that my refusing to "react" to his
remarks (that I felt at times were out of line) only seemed to make him more zealous. He also was very visibly PO'd at the officer who stopped minutes
later and was very friendly, asking me about where I liked to fish in Baja, how much to buy a lot in San Quintin, etc.
I was very friendly from the beginning and the younger officer had an attitude. No reason or justification for how he behaved. I have family in law
enforcement Barry and I am so tired of hearing that they have such a hard job to do, as if that excuses them for whatever they do or say. A lot of
people have hard/stressful jobs but asinine behavior is just that.
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DianaT
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Tigerdog
The second set of pictures are also great pictures---thanks for sharing them---
And that fur baby? Who wouldn't rent to that face? We only discriminate against the dogs that cause one to lose their liability insurance, and pug
is not on that list.
Now if I saw that face in BajaGringos avatar, that would be a real different story ---- no vacancy!
Diane
[Edited on 1-19-2009 by jdtrotter]
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BajaGringo
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What? What?????
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Mexicali_Kid
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Build bigger fences.
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BajaGringo
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Bajahowodd
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Regarding our guys at the border, two years ago, we were crossing back at Otay. When we got up to the booth, the agent said, "I'll bet you're really
happy to be back home." Truth is, we had a great time and were saddened that our trip was over. But rather than get into a debate, we just agreed with
him. Who knows if I had told him the truth, we might have been directed into a secondary?
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BajaGringo
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I have run into a few at the border that seem to react genuinely disappointed that we don't share their view of Mexico, others just the opposite. One
guy in the San Ysidro SENTRI line always asks me how the fishing is down in San Quintin and tells me that he wishes he had time to go. There is
another guy that flat out asked me "why would you WANT to live in Mexico; you can't AFFORD to live in the US???"
I really bit my tongue on that one...
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Bajahowodd
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Xenophobia is not a good trait in a Border Patrol Officer.
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BajaGringo
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It always comes down to ignorance...
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Barry A.
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaGringo
I didn't get angry Barry. He showed an obvious attitude the minute I rolled my window down and it became obvious that my refusing to "react" to his
remarks (that I felt at times were out of line) only seemed to make him more zealous. He also was very visibly PO'd at the officer who stopped minutes
later and was very friendly, asking me about where I liked to fish in Baja, how much to buy a lot in San Quintin, etc.
I was very friendly from the beginning and the younger officer had an attitude. No reason or justification for how he behaved. I have family in law
enforcement Barry and I am so tired of hearing that they have such a hard job to do, as if that excuses them for whatever they do or say. A lot of
people have hard/stressful jobs but asinine behavior is just that. |
Different strokes for different folks. Having "been there" I just have understanding for what these BP agents have to put up with, and contrary to
you (I guess???) I give them a lot of slack, always. My motto, never ever argue with "the man"---------just go along with what he says as long as he
is legal-----------it is what I always taught my kids (4), and they always managed to avoid any real problems with "the law".
Nuff said, by me anyway, at least this time.
Barry
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