Mexico
Puerto Peñasco

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    • Day 33

      Border Wars

      October 20, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

      TRUMP FOR 2020... Build the wall!

      Today along the Mexican border we ran into a couple who come down from Maine every year as volunteers in the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, the reason are: A: In Maine, in winter it gets to 30 below. B: They care about the place.
      It was a bizarre scene. First we saw neatly bagged piles of rubbish in the middle of nowhere then we came across them with those stick-claw things wandering all over the place picking stuff up.

      If you go through any official entry port into the United States the security is insane, many razor wire manufacturers have built their fortunes on America’s border control paranoia yet get away from those points and the fencing is woeful or non existent.

      Right up against, like touching the actual border line with no barriers are Mexican houses that run drugs or just enjoy throwing all their shit over to the American side, this then blows all over the country and that is what the couple we met were doing, picking it up.

      The border is so easy to cross, every night they bring drugs across from Mexico, sometimes leaving them close by or up to 5 miles inland. Then they take a GPS readings, give those coordinates to people in someplace like Phoenix so they can come down and locate the stuff.

      Everyday this couple, along with the rubbish they collect uncover drugs. Today the showed us cocaine and marijuana they discovered, the place is lousy with it, it’s like a shotgun approach, keep throwing enough rocks and eventually you’ll hit something or in this case get some drugs through.
      For the people around the border it isn’t about stopping improvised people seeking a better life, it’s about the drugs, the crime coming over and the trashing of the place so now many that were once against building the wall seem all for it.

      Building Trump’s Wall they haven’t logically started at one end and headed for the other, they’re hitting hot spots and this is one of them though it’s Monty Pythonesque in a way because alongside a known drug runners house with no other new wall construction either side for hundreds of miles they’re erected a piece of Trump Wall.
      You can imagine their reaction...“oh Pancho! what weez do with all our drugs now? zee Americanos build zee big wall in our backyard, weezs dumb Mexicans too lazy and stupid to walk next door”
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    • Day 34

      Mexico, Arizona and the Sonoran Desert

      October 21, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

      There is only so much cheap Tequila you can drink, Mexican drug smugglers you can handle or how much more can you take of hearing everyone’s opinion on Trump’s Wall so to get away from it all the best thing to do is head out into the desert... where they’re smuggling drugs and building walls.
      At least there is no Tequila out here so we’ll be sober enough to appreciate all the pretty stuff.

      The quietness is deafening till the noise really is deafening from low flying fighter jets that are based just over the next hill or somewhere, we’re not sure but it can’t be too far away America doesn’t have cat swinging room from one military base to the next and with their history the next conflict won’t be too far off so they’re probably just making sure they’re match fit for the main game.

      They gave it a rest during the day so we had a chance to really appreciate the Sonoran Desert in all its quietness and isolation and as it is with these sorts of places that are so incredible it’s pointless trying to describe them.
      The nights in the desert are just as good, you sit outside with the stars, warm breezes blowing and nights sounds all around.
      Then night sounds above!
      It’s like rolling thunder, they just keep coming, no wonder they gave it a rest during the day, the US Air Force are now on night manoeuvres.
      You can see why people in war zones get so traumatised. First there is this distant rumble then the sound increases and as they go over the top of you the noise vibrates your bones.

      Just as well they aren’t bombing as well or are they?
      How far have we driven into the desert?
      We drove past a sign the other day saying WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, we try and blame one another for driving back into that area, Rhonda wins.
      For a while this was a very peaceful and beautiful place, one of the best, now we’re cowering under the RV with s couple of saucepans over our heads.

      EPILOGUE:
      They’ve gone, it’s quiet again, the warm breeze has returned along with the night sounds of all the desert critters. We sit back by the fire reaching for that nonexistent bottle of Tequila, that’s a shame the Margarita glasses were primed with plenty of salt but a cup of tea in this setting tastes just as good.
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    • Day 11

      Sea Turtles and Beach

      January 28 in Mexico ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F

      Right around the corner from our condo is the accuario(aquarium). On a sunny Sunday morning, we took a walk to pet some turtles. It's impossible not to smile and laugh when you see these big turtles enjoying a shell rub. They seek out the attention.
      After the aquarium, we proceeded to the beach to walk in some sand and dip our toes in the frigid water.
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    • Day 15

      Brake repair.

      February 1 in Mexico ⋅ 🌬 66 °F

      Two days before we left for Mexico, the brake pad indicator light came on on the dash. Knowing how much cheaper labor is here, I rushed to secure new pads to be installed here. Luckily for overnight delivery.
      So here I am again. I'm getting the brakes done by my favorite mechanic here in Puerto Penasco
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    • Day 13

      Dentista

      January 30 in Mexico ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F

      We arrived on Friday. It's now Tuesday, and one or all of us have been to the dentist every day except Sunday. A lot of work is needed for Kirk and Dana, and a bit for Anna and I, so we have appointments every day through Saturday.
      We go to an excellent place called The Smile Clinic here in P.P. and heartily recommend them.
      Of course, once prescriptions were filled, we all danced and danced. Ok, maybe just Dana.
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    • Day 160

      Organ Pipe Cactus NM

      November 18, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

      Very close to the Mexican border in the south western part of Arizona lies the only area in the United States where organ pipe cacti grow. I really love the landscape of the Sonoran desert and greatly enjoy the scenic drives and hikes in this national Monument. However, driving along the border fence, I saw at least 150 assumedly illegal immigrants, who seem to have no problem crossing the fence and were walking towards a Border Patrol EncampmentRead more

    • Day 776

      Puerto Penasco

      July 10, 2021 in Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

      Auf dem Weg nach Puerto Penasco übernachte ich noch einmal in Santa Ana. Auf diesem kleinen Camping waren wir vor rund zehn Wochen schon einmal, jetzt bin ich alleine hier.
      Im Gegensatz dazu Puerto Penasco. Dies hier ist ein Camping für die Amerikaner / Kanadier wo hier mit ihren riesen Camper stehen. Ein Urlaubsziel für viele, aber nicht mein "Geschmack"!Read more

    • Day 5

      Wrecked at the Reef

      December 16, 2017 in Mexico ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

      If you don't see the billboards advertising this place along the highway from the border, you're driving with your eyes closed. I came here with Viv and Charles last year, and it was as I remembered, an amusing caricature of a Mexican bar for all the American frat boys and sorority girls staying in the nearby resorts. Margaritas are passable, food is pretty bad...just a pale imitation of what you can get cheaper and better pretty much anywhere else in town. Despite this, it was a fun place to peoplewatch on a Friday evening.Read more

    • Day 5

      Mary's

      December 16, 2017 in Mexico ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

      One of many simple restaurants along the Malecon. Tim had been here before, so it was easy to choose before we got ambushed by all the other street hawkers representing other restaurants. We had fish and shrimp tacos, which were cheap and delicious. Didn't seem as windy here as it did back at the house, which was a bit of a blessing. Fun to watch the birds and fish right off the patio.Read more

    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Puerto Peñasco, Puerto Penasco

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