Day Two: Yuma to La Mision, Baja California!

We got checked into our hotel, the Howard Johnson's Yuma, at about 8:40 pm. We had enough sense to settle into the room, change into our swimsuits and jump into the hot tub. Fantastic!! After about an hour or so relaxing, we made some sandwiches and got ready for bed. A lovely and restful sleep was to follow.

We rose bright and early at 7:30, ready to hit the continental breakfast at the HoJo! We got our fill of mini blueberry and lemon poppyseed muffins, oranges, bananas, and hard boiled eggs, along with coffee and apple juice. We then packed up the car and piled in for another long day of driving. But, with the knowledge that we will at the beach by the end of the day, the drive doesn't seem so bad. Now, to get through the desert and Tijuana!

We are on the road at 9:37 am, stopping for gas before we leave Yuma. Gas here is $2.86 per gallon. We "get out on the highway" and are soon in California. The desert is beautiful this time of the year, and we are all quite comfortable driving along. This is a nice change, as usually we are crossing the desert when it is sweltering! We gas up in Campo, where gas is $3.20 a gallon. Big difference in Cali. We also make a few important phone calls: to my parents and to the bank. We are getting closer to our border crossing and need to let our financial institutions know so that we will be able to access our money South of the Border. Don't cross the border without letting your bank know! They will flag your account and it will be difficult to retrieve any of your money.

At the Border Checkpoint along the highway, West I-8, the sign indicated their successes for 2009: 3567 Immigration Arrests. 370 Criminal Arrests. 9952 Lbs Drugs Seized. 15 DUI Arrests. Looks like they have been pretty busy. Although, I would have thought they would have had more arrest and seizures. We then stop at Border's Bookstore and Wal-Mart for a few last minute items, then prepare for the joy that is crossing at Tijuana!

Traffic was backed up forEVER! I thought it would take a million and a half years to get through. And of course, we are in the left lane, and we need to get over to the right lane, so that we can stop at the Migracion Officina to get our FM-T's (tourist visas). Getting across five lanes of stopped traffic was not going to be easy. We do our best to ask the other travelers politely if we can get over, and most comply. Of course, there's always the one or two jackasses that act as though you are truly hassling them and they just cannot fathom the idea of letting someone pass. We were even honked at angrily by a couple of Nuns! Craziness. Finally, after about 45 minutes to an hour, we were through the border and stopped in the Declaration Lane. This is where you need to go to get to the Migracion Officina. With our FM-T's in hand, we made a beeline around Tijuana, past the giant "Buddy" Jesus statue at K-38 in Rosarito Beach, and arriving at La Fonda Hotel and Spa at 4:30. Ahhhh! We are home!

We happily settled in OUR room, room 3, to unpack a few things, then hurry down to the beach for the last bit of dayligh.We played with the mutts on the playa, flew a kite with some nice kids from California, found some seashells and sea glass, then went back up to the room to freshen up a bit and make our way to the restaurant for some delicious dinner. Outside the restaurant, were our old friends, the lovely Senora that sells flowers (we met her when Mister was first born and she rocked him to sleep, and we have seen her every trip since) as well as the Senoritas that sell jewelry and trinkets. Of course, they had smiles as big as the day is long, and Sis, Mist (and Mom!) needed some new bracelets :)

Dinner was amazing, as always: Fried Whole Fish, Chicken Cordon Bleu, and a Mexican Combo Platter for the kids. Fantastico! Lionel and I enjoyed a refreshing cerveza or two, and listened to the live guitarist, while Sis fell asleep in her chair, covered in Mexican blankets, and Mister was about to do the same. When the meal came to a close, both kids where asleep and we were ready for bed, too. Of course, with another 209 miles under our belts today, the soft snuggly beds, and gentle crash of the waves quickly lulled us to sleep.