February 1, 2007

We finally crossed the US-Mexico border today.

In fact, we crossed it twice because the first time we didn't even have to slow down and so we figured we had missed something.

We hadn't: after turning around, re-entering the US and crossing the border again, the procedure was same - no need to stop if you don't want to.

The second time through we stopped at the customs office to obtain our 6-month tourist visa.

The Mexican customs offical was a jerk and told us that we could only have a 90-day tourist visa. He wouldn't budge. He then told us to go a few offices down, pay the fee, and then return so that he could complete the paperwork.

We instead left his office, got back in the van and drove down the "Rosarito Beach-Ensenada Scenic Route" - to Ensenada, hoping we hadn't been entered into the "system".

As soon as we crossed into Tijuana, the "normal" traffic patterns fell apart and there were hills covered in shanty shacks visible on one side of the road and the ominous border fence on the other.

While it was exhilirating to finally cross the border, we also couldn't help but wonder what we had gotten oursleves into.