mcquerry
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tEACATE CROSSING
Just getting ready to head to Mulege was thanking about crossing at Tecate, Is there a place to get a tourist card there? How long is the waite time
crossing south at T.J.? thank you Tom
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Fred
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It is the building just to the right as you cross. They have orange cones, so you can park, but, then must walk down 3 blocks to the bank and back to
get the paperwork stamped.
Fred
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Bajahowodd
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Yup. For those who have options, Tecate is probably not the best place to be heading South . Southbound, if you're looking for the easiest for getting
FM-T, SY is still the best. All depends on where you are coming from and where you are headed. Other way, Tecate rocks!
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mulegemichael
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tecate has ALWAYS been our crossing of choice...just too easy and never a wait southbound...the bank used to be directly across the street from the
immigration office...just too easy
dyslexia is never having to say you\'re yrros.
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Pescador
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I would rather eat thumbtacks than ever cross again in Tijuana. It is very easy to cross at Tecate and things are a lot slower and the lack of
traffic is a real plus. I also cross frequently at Algodones since I come from further east and avoid as much California driving as possible.
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Diver
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| Quote: | Originally posted by mulegemichael
tecate has ALWAYS been our crossing of choice...just too easy and never a wait southbound...the bank used to be directly across the street from the
immigration office...just too easy |
| Quote: | Originally posted by Pescador
I would rather eat thumbtacks than ever cross again in Tijuana. It is very easy to cross at Tecate and things are a lot slower and the lack of
traffic is a real plus. I also cross frequently at Algodones since I come from further east and avoid as much California driving as possible.
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Mrs Diver won't let me cross at TJ anymore at threat of divorce.
She's had too much fun there in the past.
We LOVE crossing at Tecate'.
.
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Pescador
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That is what my late wife said of going in to California where they obviously suck out at least half of your brains when they issue you a drivers
license. We watched in awe as a person in the left lane on a 5 lane hwy went in to a four wheel drift when he decided at the last minute that he
wanted to exit to the right. Now that is not too bad except that we were all doing about 80 MPH at the time and he did manage to miss my front bumper
by at least 1/2 an inch. As we were getting ready to exit on the last exit before the border we had three cars pass us in the breakdown lane at
approximately 75 MPH and they of course did that with their horns blaring. My wife was biting on her polar fleece jacket so hard (at my request) that
she actually bit through the sleeve. So we quickly decided that no matter how bad the construction on the Tecate--Ensenada route, we would never take
our life in our hands and do the San Diego--Tijuana route ever again.
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DanO
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Pescador
That is what my late wife said of going in to California where they obviously suck out at least half of your brains when they issue you a drivers
license. |
You obviously fail to understand the rules of the road here. Here are the most important ones (others should feel free to add more):
1. It is the solemn obligation of every vehicle-wielding Californiamerican to make sure that his fellow drivers remain vigilant and alert to
potential dangers. As a consequence, each of them at some random point in time is required to do something incredibly stupid and dangerous, like
executing a 90-degree exit turn from the left lane of a 5-lane highway, in traffic, at 80 mph. That guy was just doing his civic duty by keeping
everyone on their toes. Dude deserves a medal.
2. It is not called the "breakdown" lane. It is called the "emergency" lane, and therefore may be used for any "emergency," including being late to
an appointment in TJ and stuck behind someone doing the speed limit. By the way, if you use that lane as a "breakdown" lane and leave your vehicle
there, you'll get a ticket for not risking your life by trying to push it the rest of the way to the border. This is so obvious, I don't know why I
have to explain it.
3. You are not permitted to merge smoothly into highway traffic. Instead, you must either (a) wait until no cars can be seen for at least a half
mile in any direction before gingerly pressing the gas pedal so those two squirrels in a Habitrail that pass for your engine can ease you onto the
highway, or (b) floor it at the bottom of the on-ramp so you reach terminal velocity by the time you get to the highway, then swerve into traffic
without signaling or checking your mirror (only wussies do that) and hope you don't hit anything. Russian cabdrivers are very skilled in the (b)
method.
4. When it rains, you are not allowed to use the other half of the brains you have left. Instead, you must panic and use exceptionally poor
judgment. This is also a good time to do something stupid pursuant to Rule 1. A two-fer, if you will.
5. When the sun is rising or setting in your face, you may not use your sunglasses or visor to screen it and allow yourself to see and drive at the
same time. Rather, you are required to use your left hand as a sunshade, while you hold your cellphone and send texts with your right hand and steer
the vehicle with one knee. Oh, and you have to slam on the brakes unexpectedly every once in a while.
6. Never, ever pull your vehicle fully into the right turn lane when making a right turn. Semi-trucks need two lanes to make a right turn, correct?
Well, the majority of Californians drive SUVs they think are the equivalent of semis, and they need room to turn too, buddy. Who cares about all
those clowns stuck behind them in the next lane because your big SUV butt is sticking out into traffic while you wait for the homeless guy to crawl
across the crosswalk before you turn? Suck it, clowns, and get your own SUVs!
7. When driving on narrow streets or roads, always take your half out of the middle. You pay taxes, so you own that damn pavement. And since you
really aren't sure how big your SUV is, what the hell, give yourself five or six feet of extra space from the shoulder or the parked cars on the right
side. That guy coming the opposite direction in his Camry who thinks this is still a two-way street? Screw him. He'll just have to pull over until
you glide on past.
8. If you drive a Prius, you are required to drive like people used to when they had those "Baby on Board" window thingies -- like insufferable jerks
who were better then everyone else and had their own set of rules. (Those window thingies should have said "Baby on Board, Driver is a Jerk.")
9. When parking on the street, always position your car to take up at least one and a half parking spots. Ditto for parking lots. And in the
parking lot, always swing your car door open as far as you can so you can ding the door of the car next to you. It's like a sport. I call it
"doordinging." For a fun variation, instead of putting your shopping cart in the little shopping cart pen, let it roll randomly downhill and see how
many cars it can doording before coming to a stop.
10. Trash cans are only for decorative purposes. They are not to be used as actual trash receptacles. Just toss your used diapers, burning
cigarettes, empty Big Gulps, plastic grocery bags, used condoms, etc. out the window of your car. Don't worry, some hapless convicted drunk driver
will be forced to put on a day-glo vest and risk his or her neck picking up and neatly bagging your trash on the side of the road. (This is also the
rule in Mexico, except for the picking up part.)
I hope this was helpful.
\"Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.\" -- Frank Zappa
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Udo
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Our normal crossing is at Otai Mesa. If we are going directly South (Ensenada and below) we always cross at Tecate. Our FM-T we always get from
Discover Baja. Can't beat the convenience!
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DanO
I hope this was helpful.
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Indeed it is and, I'm impressed, DanO. It was a big job for you to translate this from the original Korean drivers manual.
When can we expect the Spanish edition?
Thanks.
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Udo
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DanO---
What's this thing about drivers??
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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DianaT
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DanO
(Those window thingies should have said "Baby on Board, Driver is a Jerk.")
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All of that was so good---others just do not understand the CA method of driving.
But I love the Baby on Board----we always thought it meant it was OK to run into other cars where there were no babies.
Thanks for the great laugh.
To the original question, if you cross early in the morning, it is quick at San Ysidro. We almost always cross going south at San Ysidro and Tecate
coming north.
[Edited on 11-21-2009 by DianaT]
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Pescador
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I have now cut and pasted DanO's manual for driving in Southern California. This is very important information and should be required reading for
anyone thinking about traveling there.
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mcquerry
Junior Nomad
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FM-T
What is "discover baja" and how do I get an FM-T with them?
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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http://www.discoverbaja.com/
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David K
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Location: San Diego County
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| Quote: | Originally posted by mcquerry
What is "discover baja" and how do I get an FM-T with them? |
http://discoverbaja.com
It is a travel club for Baja and Mexico travelers... $39/ year and has discounts for members on hotels, campgrounds, restaurants, Mexican auto.
insurance, quarterly newsletter (see my front page story in the Fall issue, online), Baja books and maps discounted to members and available to
everyone. They can sell you a pre-paid FM-T (Tourist Card) should you be crossing anywhere other than Tijuana (which has a 24/7 payment teller).
Remember, you still must stop at the border to validate the FM-T!
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mcquerry
Junior Nomad
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Registered: 11-14-2004
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Tecate
Thanks for all the help, I really needed it. I have been going down for 30 years now and you would think I would know this stuff. Never crossed into
Mexico through Tecate although I have come back that way a few times.
Thanks again
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