Border Crossing

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  Rosarito, Mexico
Monday, July 3, 2006

Bob is a genius. A swift walk across the border, a $1 bus ride, and we came into Rosarito full of anticipation. Thatīs when Bob had the idea . . . instead of waiting in line, each paying a $10 cover, and buying beer at Rosaritoīs hottest club ĻPapas & Beer,Ļ he suggested we introduce ourselves to the manager as traveling videographers (and we are) and request free and immediate entrance to document the throngs of girls gone wild. And it worked! We were in like sin with free Dos Equis in hand. Unfortunately we were prohibited from videotaping within the premises but that didnīt stop us from having a good time.

Camping on Rosarito beach is a two sided experience, especially if youīre the only gringos there. On one hand, you can pitch your tent a few minutes walk from all the cool bars, clubs, and restaurants, walk barefoot on golden sands, and take a bath (a cold one) in the ocean whenever you please. The best part is that itīs absolutely free. Enjoying such a premier location is not altogether without its drawbacks. There are sandstorms every time the cowboys ride past you. Even worse are the crusty drunks, hanging out ten feet away from your tent, dramatically breaking beer bottles every time you take a picture of them (or not take a picture of them). Not to mention the incessant local music blasted at full volume from nearby campers. Perhaps the worst is the ever present danger of theft. We weighed the plusses with the minuses and took the risk. Free is free after all. We experienced it. Robertoīs beloved Tevas were stolen.

The best part of Rosarito was meeting Freddy, Brenda, and Karina, our most generous neighbors from Anza, California who kept us well fed. Karina, beguiling with her dark skin, striking green eyes, and jet black hair with a streak of white, tricked Roberto, the staunch vegetarian, into sampling a local delicacy. It went like this:

Karina: Here try this.

(Karina reaches into a bag and pulls out a slimy wormlike substance)

Roberto: Itīs not meat is it? Iīm a vegetarian.
Karina: Oh no, itīs not meat.

(Roberto takes a bite of the foreign food hoping it to be a new exotic vegetable.)

Karina: Itīs pig skin.

(Roberto spits out the goop and nearly explodes. Karina laughs)

Karina: Iīm just kidding.

(Roberto recovers and plops the rest of the slimy goop back into his mouth.)

Karina: Itīs really pig skin.

(Roberto explodes and everyone laughs.)

The adorably sweet Brenda, with her crown of long flowing hair, made us civiche that puts Peruvians to shame. Her boyfriend Freddy never tired of smiling or drinking and made friends with everyone he met. His generosity knew no bounds and he catered to our every need providing: shade, drink, food, and smoke (for Bob). Getting to know them was the best part of Rosarito. They were good dancers too. Now weīre in Ensanda for a brief stopover, getting ready for the next bend in the road.

Lesson from uncle Bob: Watch where you step.

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03. Papas & Beer	04. Rosarito Beach Neighbors	05. Lesson from uncle Bob	Golden Sands on Rosarito Beach

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