We decided to make the obligatory trip across the border today, to Los Algodones, Mexico. As a first timer, it was quite the experience. First of all, it is strongly recommended that you park your car on the US side of the border and walk over. The native band that owns the land on the US side offers parking for $6 per day right next to the border crossing. Passports in hand, we headed along the sidewalk leading to Los Algodones, but there were no officials to check your citizenship - you just walk right into the downtown.
Once there, dentist offices and pharmacies as far as the eye can see, and outside each one is a man or woman trying to entice you inside. And if you're not outside a dentist office or a pharmacy, you're outside a small goods store or stall. The offerings are what you would expect - wallets, hats, jewellery, metal works, t-shirts and other clothing, etc., etc. We wandered for a couple of hours, made a couple of purchases, had some lunch (mostly as an excuse to rest our weary bodies), and headed to the line-up to get back into the US. The process was relatively painless - mostly seemed interested in whether you had purchased any pharmaceuticals.
Before we headed back to camp, we drove back west along Hwy 8 a couple of miles to a little place called Felicity, CA. We had spotted a church sitting on a hilltop yesterday on the drive into Yuma, and snapped a photo from the highway. It took a long time searching on the internet to finally determine that it was part of a tiny community that is officially recognized as the Center of the World.
A fellow and his wife have been building what they call a Museum of History in Granite. It's hard to explain, but you can visit their website http://www.felicity.us/home.html for more details, or visit another website http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2036 for a summarized account of the history of the place. I'll simply post some pictures we took. Another person with a vision and the means to pursue it.
Once there, dentist offices and pharmacies as far as the eye can see, and outside each one is a man or woman trying to entice you inside. And if you're not outside a dentist office or a pharmacy, you're outside a small goods store or stall. The offerings are what you would expect - wallets, hats, jewellery, metal works, t-shirts and other clothing, etc., etc. We wandered for a couple of hours, made a couple of purchases, had some lunch (mostly as an excuse to rest our weary bodies), and headed to the line-up to get back into the US. The process was relatively painless - mostly seemed interested in whether you had purchased any pharmaceuticals.
Before we headed back to camp, we drove back west along Hwy 8 a couple of miles to a little place called Felicity, CA. We had spotted a church sitting on a hilltop yesterday on the drive into Yuma, and snapped a photo from the highway. It took a long time searching on the internet to finally determine that it was part of a tiny community that is officially recognized as the Center of the World.
A fellow and his wife have been building what they call a Museum of History in Granite. It's hard to explain, but you can visit their website http://www.felicity.us/home.html for more details, or visit another website http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2036 for a summarized account of the history of the place. I'll simply post some pictures we took. Another person with a vision and the means to pursue it.
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It was 96 degrees in the motor home when we got back, so sat out in the shade and read for a while. Dinner, a visit to the hot tub and a quiet evening in.
Until next time dear followers.
Until next time dear followers.