Participants Blogs
La Aventura Panamericana - Day Four Blog
By
Nov 14, 2006, 13:23

The Marquis hotel in Los Cabos is so magnificent it will take a lot of persuading to make us continue the rally!

This rest day gives everyone the opportunity to relax, especially with the hotel providing everything one could want - three huge swimming pools and every conceivable activity, including flying in a micro-lite.

As this is our last night in Baja California, we thought, having driven the length of the peninsula, that it would be of interest to give our impressions of Mexico so far. When you cross the border from San Diego, you are first confronted with the seediness of Tijuana and the depressing fact that over 4000 Mexicans have died trying to enter the US illegally. The number of deaths, written in large figures on the border fence, accompanied by hundreds of plain white crosses bears witness to this.

Once away from Tijuana, we started to see a different Mexico: one of reasonably prosperous towns, friendly people and magnificent scenery. We had been told worrying stories of crime and corruption, but so far our
worst problem has been dishonest pump attendants who will try to pump fuel without turning the pump meter back to zero, so the customer is left paying not only for his fuel but for someone else's.

As for food, we are still waiting to try real Mexican specialities. Our meals have been fine, but little different from Mexican food served in British or American restaurants. The margaritas and Mexican beer (Pacifico, Corona, Tecate etc) have been excellent!

Some of our most abiding memories so far have been the cacti. For hundreds of miles we have driven past many varieties of cactus, including up to 10 metre high cardones - the typical Mexican cactus, as well as the unique and weird looking cirios found only in Baja.

Our first four days have certainly lived up to expectations and we look forward with excitement to the rest of the trip.

By Wendy and Tim - Car 9

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