I began my 8-day journey to explore the US-Mexico border January 14, with flights from Tampa, FL to San Diego, CA.
A 10-minute Uber ride to the off-site Hertz office saved me over $600 on my rental car. This Buick Encore was perfect for the trip- comfortable, peppy, and good on gas.
Although I usually travel solo, Rachel is my sidekick for this one. Facing a 2,000 mile drive in unfamiliar territory, she was truly a comfort and a blessing.
San Diego’s iconic wooden pier at Imperial Beach is 1,853 feet long. This is my first ever visit to the Pacific Ocean!
Amish women in full-length dresses and surfer dudes together on the beach. Hmm, I must be in California.
This is a Tsunami Hazard Zone. “In case of earthquake go to high ground or inland.” Well, I wouldn’t be surfing…
Like a kid in a candy store, I didn’t know where to look first and I was all over the place…
Florida temps were in the 80s when we left, so the air here felt chilly. However, it was toasty in the bright sunshine.
I’d never seen waves like that before, never mind people attempting to surf on them.
I could have watched them longer, but after traveling all day, we were ready to eat something.
We left Tampa at 7:00 this morning and it was now 4 PM. Thankfully, The Tin Fish restaurant is open…
… and this sassy senorita named Caroleena serves up the most delicious fish tacos I have ever tasted.
Who doesn’t enjoy a bit of people watching…
I’m assuming this poor person is homeless. The first of many we will come across. Love the Betsy Ross flag/quilt!
As we leave Imperial Beach, I am excited for the journey that lies ahead. I pray for many opportunities and divine appointments.
Slight detour to check out this interesting salt marsh as we head for the freeway… Next stop San Ysidro!
It wasn’t far, and we made it to San Ysidro quickly and with daylight to spare.
Although my goal was to “hug” the border when possible, we were literally two blocks from Mexico!
The Rodeway Inn was more than adequate for our needs and very convenient to shopping and major roadways.
We settled in quickly, and I got my first look at the border wall. It was getting dusk-y, so we didn’t go far.
My rental car was not allowed to cross the border into Mexico, which was fine with me. After seeing that sluggish heavy traffic, I was happy to walk.
Night fell quickly. Not sure of our surroundings, Rachel and I admired the sunset as we hightailed it back to the safety of the motel.
Baby’s hungry and the money’s all gone
The folks back home don’t want to talk on the phone
She gets a long letter, sends back a postcard
Times are hard…
Down in Mexico
I’m an early bird, so as I wait for Rachel, I put together a plan to get to the far end of the border wall.
Since the park on the U. S. side is only open on the weekend, it’ll have to be in Mexico.
Julie is a lovely clerk at the motel. I asked her opinion and she suggested a taxi on the other side. She even wrote me a note.
This instructs the driver to take me to Playas de Tijuana, wait for me to take pictures, and return me to where he picked me up.
It was a beautiful day to go to Mexico, and I was pumped!!
The jury was still out with Rachel. Her family kept telling her how dangerous it was here, and it was making her nervous.
I’m pretty sure I got the stink eye from her when I took a picture of the sign saying No Photography, so I put my IPad away.
We were questioned briefly about our visit to Mexico, and then waved through. And just like that, we emerged in Tijuana.
It was kind of noisy and somewhat scruffy; nevertheless, I found it charming.
Disponible means available.
Now to find a taxi to take us to Playas de Tijuana. All the drivers are gathered at the end of this walkway.
Alberto had a kind face and agreed to take us for $30, which is exactly what Julie suggested I should pay.
Please excuse any blurriness- we were traveling at the speed of light…or sound. Whichever is faster.
DIAL 078 signs were virtually everywhere. Obviously, visitors required a lot of assistance here.
There seemed to be a double wall in places.
When we took the right turn for Playas de Tijuana, it began to look more resort-ish and beach-y, which made sense.
The gaily-painted wall in front of us is the actual border wall.
I felt battered from trying to keep my balance and take pictures in the careening car, so when he finally stopped, I wanted to kiss the ground. But it was so worth it!
Playas de Tijuana resembled any small beach town, slightly rundown and seedy in a charming sort of way.
There doesn’t seem to be much allowed here… Perhaps a smaller sign stating what is allowed?
I’m standing 3 miles south of the pier we visited yesterday. People have swum from here to there- a 5 hour journey according to Elden Kidd.
https://www.gq.com/story/elden-kidd-americas-most-dedicated-people-smuggler
I can only imagine the desperation it would take to attempt an undertaking like that… and grateful I don’t have to.
The westernmost end of the border wall extends right out into the Pacific. The area is heavily supervised electronically and physically. The currents appeared quite strong, as well.
See the story behind the 6 college grads painted on the fence in the 2-minute ABC-channel 13 video.
Internet photo: The border wall attracts artists and activists from all over the world.
Read more about where the border fence meets the sea.
https://www.latimes.com/world/mexico-americas/la-fg-mexico-tijuana-beach-2017-story.html
Apparently, smugglers attempted to breach the wall where I took my pictures last week. This shows the repair, and a female jogger on the US side. Read more:
https://cbsaustin.com/news/nation-world/border-patrol-allows-replanting-after-bulldozing-garden
Sneak peeks of the United States through the heavily paint-encrusted bollards…
This wall casts such a heavy shadow, doesn’t it?
There is much anti-American sentiment here. Lots of hard feelings… It’s a complex issue with no easy answers.
Names of deportees who are also US military veterans. So sad.
The obelisk is the first of 258 boundary monuments that trace their origins to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo of 1848
The sign above the door says UNDOCUMENTED CAFE AND APTS.
Alberto is waiting patiently as I take my pictures, and now we begin the journey back to San Ysidro…
We pass Tijuana’s famous Bull Ring (Monumental Plaza de Toros) adjacent to the border wall.
It is reportedly for sale for ~ $41 million (US) on a site of 20 acres.
www.sohosandiego.org/enews/0318mariabullring.htm
Location, location, location… Border wall runs along the bottom of photograph.
Spend a minute at the Bull Ring. Spoiler alert- the bull loses this one.
He Man Hasta La Proxima says “…and remember friends, the beach is not a dump.”
As we rocket past, this section of the wall appears to be under construction.
The mural work I saw south of the border was top-notch.
Gas was NOT $18.69/ gallon, but 18.69 pesos per liter. So we’re talking about $4/ gallon.
Mexitlan Plaza is now permanently closed, but Pepe Nacho, the vagabond clown is still selling his papers at the overpass.
Loosely translated, it says “he doesn’t enjoy what he has, because of the anxiety of what he is waiting for”.
Meet the talent behind the mural… Ariana Escudero
The Tijuana Arch is located at the beginning of Avenida Revolucion in Zona Centro, the downtown area of the city.
It wasn’t far, and if time had allowed, I would have paid a visit. Best I can do for you is a couple of internet photos…
The Tijuana Arch stands at 180 feet, and was built on Tijuana’s most famous street to welcome tourists.
I didn’t notice the window washers when I took this photo…
This is where we entered Mexico. Although I instructed him to drop us off where he picked us up, Alberto pointed out that we needed to reenter the US at a different place.
It’s just a few minutes further, and we get out of his car here and follow the border and immigration signs for US entry.
All sorts of food, drugs, and trinkets are for sale as we walk along the street towards the border.
Once again, I thank God for my lot in life and all that I have been blessed with.
There are so many in need here. How can they all be helped?
We joined the queue entering the US, grateful that we had decided against having lunch in Mexico, as the line grew quickly behind us.
Showing passports, we are ushered toward another longer and slower queue.
Twenty-five minutes later, we have cleared Customs and security, and walk back into our beautiful country.
As we walk the two blocks up the hill for the car, I marvel that we were in Mexico for less than 2 hours. It felt a lot longer…
This concludes the first segment of Border| Line. Ride along as we next head to Felicity, CA (population 2), the Imperial Sand Dunes, and explore the border near Yuma, AZ.
See you soon! Leave comments.
Wow!! I was hanging on reading this…waiting to see if you guys made it out ok!! LOL…. glad to see that you did.
Hang on tight- there’s lots more adventures as we make our way along the wall to Brownsville, TX!
Wow! I’ve been to Tijuana and seen the poverty but never the wall. We always overpaid for things we bought and ALWAYS gave out quarters to the children selling bracelets. Sad in the deportees, especially those who served. My youngest son was born in CA and in a missions trip to Mexico they stayed just north of San Diego. He came home to Delaware and said to me “tell me again, WHY did we leave California?!” ♥️Maria
There is so much more to the wall issue than most people understand or even care about. It cannot protect the American people (and there is real EVIL in those cartels) without hurting some Mexican people. It’s nothing new…this conundrum exists. We live in a world made imperfect by sin, and that won’t change until our Savior appears. Bo, Yeshua, bo!
Absolutely Loved The Story and All The Beautiful Photographs!!!…Looking Forward To Next Chapter…It Was So Nice Meeting You Today…Stay Blessed…🥰🥰
Thanks for the feedback, Diane. It was very nice to meet you, as well. There are many posts you can look at while waiting for the next installment of Border| Line. God bless you!
Marie, very interesting travels. Thank you for sharing. Glad you’re home safe. : )
Thanks, Bev. There’s more to come…
I read it ! You and Rachel are brave Chiquitas but I know you felt the protection of God with you at all times. 🙏