Day 13 - Tucson AZ to Nogales Mexico
Trip Start
Sep 19, 2007
1
13
18
Trip End
Oct 06, 2007
Where I stayed
Nogales, Mexico
Monday, October 1, 2007
Temp: 84ºF
Accomodation: Hampton Inn
Was looking to buy pure vanilla from Mexico. Instead of looking in the store in Tuson, decided to drive to the Mexico border. Down I-19, pass by a town called Sahuarita lined with hundreds of trees. Later found out it was the Green Valley Pecan Company. The next town is Green Valley , looks interesting made a point to come back.
Looking at the guide book there is a town called Tubac. Stopped at a shopping complex called Nobe Hill. Very new and trendy. Lunch at the Nobe Hill Bakery. The town is full of Artists and gallery. Like a mini Santa Fe.
After lunch back on the highway to Nogales AZ.
As you approah Nogales, you start to see signs in kilometers, rather than miles. Signs like McDonald's in Spanish.
Driving along the main street called Grand Ave - just before hitting town saw buildings after buildings of storage places for produce. Majority of the produce from Mexico passes here. Grand Ave is not much to look at - brokers , produce co, insurance [you 'll need extra insurance to drive in Mexico] and lots of auto parts stores. Drove all the way to the border looking for grocery store.
Found a Food City grocery store, brought some spices but no vanilla. Asked a clerk at the store he said you have to get it in Mexico. So we park our car at a paid parking lot by the border [$4.00]. Walk across the border , the Mexican guard barely look at us when we walk right by.
Nogales , Sonora state, Mexico is another world. Much like Tijuana but the town is like the next street from the US. There were pharmacy after pharmacy for perscription drugs.
Med's that have names like Liptor, Viagra, and many you saw them advertise on TV.
Picked up vanilla [US $2.00 for 250 ml]. The many vendors selling typical Mexican stuffs - pottery, blankets, liquor, silver jewelery..etc. It was warm and humid day. Streets are clean with lots of police visible. Sidewalk are uneven and cracked.
There was only a wall seperating the 2 countries. There were houses on the Mexican side practically 3 feet from the 'wall'.
Back to the US side, the border guard checked our ID's then ask Dave to open his backpack while others just walk right by.
We stopped at WalMart . Parking lot is full of cars with Mexican license plates, the store even posted exchange rate for Peso, spanish signs and spoken everywhere in the store. It is like you are still in Mexico. Saw Mexican buying items like generators.
Back on freeway back to Tuscon. Turn off exit 69 to Green Valley . Shop at the Walmart. Dinner at Manuel's Mexican Restaurant - good food and reasonable prices.Had the garlic shrimp [8 jumbo] with veg, rice & beans for $10.95.
After dinner drove back to hotel.
