Border Observations — Tijuana to San Ysidro
March 21, 2010
This post was originally written on the back of some directions given to us to help us find our way across the border from Baja to California. I am going to try to read my chicken scratch now and share these thoughts with you here.
Friday, March 12, 2010: My husband pointed out to me an interesting observation at the TJ-SY border today: How do you think you as a mother would be looked upon if your child were found strolling through 25 border crossing auto lanes, begging for pesos (or in our case — dollars)? How long do you think that practice would be allowed to go on in the United States and your child still be permitted to be with you? This is what happens here, everyday, all day, just a footstep from U.S. soil.
What an incredibly different world it is here. While waiting in line at the border — 2 hours to be exact — I watched a man washing his t-shirt in a huge concrete overflow culvert. He was beating it against the cement and dunking it into the water — doing a pretty thorough job of it, I might add.
I watched two amputees stationed in the midst of the multi-lane approach to the U.S. Customs– one in a wheel chair (he was actually applying sunscreen to his face) and one sitting on the asphalt (literally) having a congenial discussion (they were supposed to be begging but must have found each others’ company more satisfying).
I watched one soft drink vendor directing traffic, several women with small babies and a few ancient, unaccompanied women begging.
I saw vendors carrying all sorts of knickknacks, objects-d-art and even furniture up and down the lanes. They were commissioned salesmen(women) for the little temporary shops by the side of the road. All kinds of stuff, desks, candy, blankets, auto window shades and of course the ever popular Virgin de Guadalupe statues and pictures.
It is just the way they go to work everyday. I am sure that there is a social network here. If someone doesn’t show up to beg or work, I’ll bet the others start wondering what happened to them. Interesting thought, huh?
Yes these people are poor and yes they appear to be pathetic but if they didn’t have this place to go everyday, I am pretty sure that they would just dry up and die. They have no health insurance, no retirement savings, no vacation pay. I’m not saying that this sight is humanly acceptable but it is their way of life. It is HARD WORK!
Flowers in Baja?
March 20, 2010
I finally got my pictures downloaded from my Mexico trip and I promise to feed them to you a little at a time. One of the things that really shocked me was the existence of flowers throughout the desert. On our way home, they were blooming like crazy as you can see here. Spring is busting out all over!!
Back Home in Truckee and Lovin it!
March 19, 2010
Well I have been home almost a week now and haven’t blogged. Thought I would just put down some quick thoughts relative to real estate that I noticed during my recent travels south of the border.
“When the U.S. sneezes, Mexico catches a cold (or rather La Grippe)”. Don’t remember who said it but I sure witnessed it this past month. On the way back to the states from Baja, we drove through Ensenada and Rosarita Beach, communities located on the Pacific Ocean in and within 2 hours of the U.S. border. My first observation was how built up these areas had become. The last time I was in Rosarita Beach was probably only 10 years ago and it was just a little beach town. This time I was shocked at the amount of high rise condos and luxury homes that had been built. They lined the oceanside and were stacked up 2-3 deep on the hillsides.
Upon closer look, however, I noticed that many of these buildings were uninhabited and in fact, many were unfinished. Hundreds of buildings, large and small, just left to rot at whatever stage they were when their producers either ran out of money or ran out of customers. I witnessed a couple of half-hearted “Open House” attempts to market vacant homes or empty lots but the big picture would indicate that their attempts would be futile.
The bottom line is the demand for these beautiful properties dried up with the U.S. economy. I could feel sorry for the Mexican workers who began to get used to a higher lifestyle, maybe bought themselves a new car, a home, some toys – but hey, isn’t that what has happened to us?
Just an interesting observation and once again another example of what a world market we exist in these days.
Musings from A Trailer Park in Baja
March 5, 2010
It is amazing how much we depend on electronic gear (I think that is still the word that one uses for things like cameras and cell phones). This trip south of the border has really pointed out this fact to me. First my cell phone went crazy and lost all of my notes (something I am going to have to deal with when I get home), then I lost the cables to the camera upon which I have stored all of my beautiful pictures which is why I am unable to post any of them here. Actually I believe that I left the camera cables in Truckee, safely in my computer case. So I will post lots of photos when I get home.
Seriously though, here I am at Los Barriles at a RV park that has wifi and the first thing all of the vacationers do when they get up in the morning is walk over to the hotspot with their laptops. Who could ever have imagined how easy it would be to stay in touch, AND most importantly, how easy it would be to get addicted to this mode of communication.
Jennifer has been taking care of business while I have been gone, but I am easily keeping up with the inventory back in the Tahoe MLS each morning when I am able to go on line. What a life!!!
Pat Sutton – In Memorian
February 1, 2010
Truckee lost a true public servant on Saturday night January 30, 2010. Pat Sutton, Mother, Wife, Business Owner, and Public Servant in this wonderful mountain town of Truckee, California was and always will be for me a real stand up person.
Pat was a real role model for all of us citizens. She was profoundly ethical and forever the representative of the people. Always questioning to be sure that she was doing the best to represent her constituents.
Pat served in various capacities over the years here in Truckee but will best be remembered (at least by me) as a director on the Truckee Donner Public Utility District Board. She also had a stint as a Supervisor with Nevada County from 1981 until 1985 and served on the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board from 1982 – 1986.
My memories of Pat mostly involve her tenacious review of PUD technical reports at board meetings. Others in the audience would squirm with disinterest and impatience because they were forced to sit and wait until she was entirely satisfied with the explanation so that she could render an educated decision. She seemed to revel in holding the room “hostage” while she asked many questions that had only long, arduous and, I might add — boring answers. The district employee giving the report would, of course comply and the rest of the room would sleep while Pat sought satisfactory answers.
I will also miss the real and human side of Pat Sutton. Great sense of humor, friendly and welcoming — always a great ambassador of Truckee.
Goodbye Pat, I will miss seeing you occasionally in the post office or talking to you once in a while when you answered the phone at Robert Sutton Paving. Another Icon leaves this earth a better place.
