Eight is Enough for Los Algodones, Mexico

I was up and out the door on Tuesday, Jan. 8^th by 7:10 after prepping our Keurig. It was a calm morning around 50F and the sky was clear. It should be a nice day for a trip to Mexico. We had bacon and eggs with our coffee and tea after I returned from my walk. Rob and Pat picked Marlene and Benno up in their truck and we picked Nancy and Ken up in ours at 9 am.

Our morning sky before Madame Sunshine rose

And then after she was up in her full glory

We drove past the Quechan casino and parked in the lot for $6. Eight of us walked over together and stuck together throughout the morning hours. We shopped, laughed and had a great time together. It was the first time for our friends to visit Los Algodones and I can tell that both couples are anxious to go back. Everyone was very appreciative that Rob, Pat, Bill and I took them over for the first time. It can be intimidating if you go the first time alone.

A pretty courtyard - we should eat here one day

There is something about returning to this town and meeting up with some of the same friendly Mexicans we’ve seen on each visit. Benno and Ken laughed as 4 of us shook hands and hugged Andy and Jr. These guys have helped us find things and have always been the perfect gentlemen when we turned down their offers to locate a ‘dentist, optometrist or pharmacy’. We already have our own and yet each time they greet us like 4 amigos.

Snowbirds Alley - that's Jr. on the left

The first place we headed was to Snowbird Alley where they paint signs. Mexican Marlon ‘Brando’ as he fondly calls himself was happy to demonstrate his talent as he painted a sign for us from scratch. Most had seen this before but I’ve always missed it. We were enthralled with his ability to turn a piece of board into a work of art. We weren’t there to buy a sign but we watched from beginning to end. His technique that I’d like to have fun with during the summers.

Introducing to Marlon 'Brando'
From the beginning of a painting to the end
He is amazing! It took 15 minutes

We walked around until 11:00 when we got a table in the Open Courtyard for lunch. We ordered our drinks and meals at the same time. I neglected to get a picture of my blended lime margarita and vegetable soup but they were both very good. I needed some ice cubes from Marlene’s glass to cool down the hot soup. Not spicy hot, just hot. When we left there at 12:15, we said goodbye to Rob, Pat, Marlene and Benno while Bill, Ken, Nancy and I walked to see Dr. Eva Urena.

Benno seems very serious but he is truly quite hilarious
This is his Mariachi pose

Ken had an appointment to see our dentist after losing a filling on Sunday night. When we left there, we stopped around to pick up a couple of our purchases being held and to pick up Nancy’s new glasses. Where can you buy glasses and pick them up in 2 hours? She got a nice pair of progressive lenses, new frames and eye test for a mere $160. She was very pleased. We headed back to the Purple Pharmacy and Nancy had a quick walk through to check out a medication before we walked to the line for exit.

Lots of beautiful things to see and buy

Optometrist on the left while Nancy chooses glasses
with Maira and Ken, Benno and Marlene check things out
Middle - do you need a beer holster?
On the right - metal garden sculptures

A gecko on the tree behind our table

Stopping for a snack with friends
Nancy, Rob, Pat, me, Marlene, Benno, Bill and Ken

Bill and Nancy wait in the dentist's courtyard

Prettiest dental office in town!
Dr. Eva Urena

Boy! Were we surprised to see the longest line we’ve ever seen. We were sure we’d be 2 hours at the very least since the line up was past the canal, past 2 streets and all the way up the hill. The weather was conducive to such a line though, not hot, not cold and we chatted with others in front and back of us. From the beginning of our wait, it was an hour and 40 minutes before we were back in the truck. It is what it is and there isn’t anything you can do about it, but wait.

Walking to the end of the line, I turned around to check on Ken and Nancy

Past the canal and the barbed fencing
We all made it back shy of 2 hours

Back home, I was so happy to take my running shoes and socks off. We had texted Pat and Rob about Clemson once we got in line but they had already returned and rescued the little bum. We knew we needn’t have worried. By the time we reached the truck, he had been fed, watered and walked. He was well looked after. When we returned home, we joined them for a rum and Coke and chatted about the great day we all had.

Fish and chips for supper

The sky was performing again last night
I was glad to be in attendance

For supper, I’d planned fish filets and fries so started preheating the air fryer. With the lateness of our return, I’m glad I hadn’t planned anything more complicated. It all turned out very good and we had a small dish of my Jell-O for dessert. Yummy!

It was a great day today and although longer than we’d first thought, we were very happy to have shown our friends a new experience.

Sometimes, it doesn't matter if you see the actual sunset

Thank you for stopping in today. If you’d like to comment, I’d love to hear from you.