south of the border

during our recent trip to arizona, my companions asked if i wanted to see mexico. in retrospect, maybe i should have said, "no".

we were already in tucson for the day, so the hourlong drive down to nogales was not a big deal. i was surprised that we weren't stopped at the border, like we were when we went to canada, but we drove right into mexico without so much as a wave from their border patrol. that alone should have raised a huge red flag.

with the flag (albeit not a red one)

we drove less than a mile into nogales, took some pictures, and turned around to join the long line of cars waiting to get into the u.s.

welcoming us with open arms (and border)

mexican real estate

our return to the u.s. did not go so smoothly. first, there was the 45 minute wait in line to get across the border. as we waited, mexicans walked between the cars, offering to wash our windows and sell us random paintings, sequined disney princess pictures, food, balloons, other mexicans.....(well, maybe not the last one)

by the time we got to the actual border, we were hot and tired of being hounded. the customs agent we dealt with was not pleasant at all. he couldn't understand why we didn't park our car and walk across (like everyone else apparantly does), and sent us over to the car-searching area. twenty minutes later, satisfied that we weren't smuggling anything (or anyone) across the border, we were allowed to leave.

you have no idea how glad i was to be back.