11-22-10 First day in Mexico

Monday – 11/22/10

Photos: http://silverserenity.shutterfly.com/2637

  All photos for Mexico, Yuma and Pilot Knob are at the same link above.

Last night was spent in Pilot Knob. The remainder of our time will be spent here at least until the dental work is done. This will also be where we will receive our first mail drop from home.

It’s amazing how few people are here! There are only 4 others in one parking area. It also appears that the BLM has made the camping area smaller since this past January. No one is in the farther camping area. We had assumed that a lot of the snow birds (RV’ers that go south in the winter to avoid the cold up north) would be here by now.

While setting up, Thomas talked to another camper here about the shortage of people here. He said that they had experienced the same surprise at the number of people in the area. He told us that Mexico was empty when they went to Algodones. He said, “You could shoot a missile down the street and not hit anyone. That was how empty it is.”

Yesterday I sent my dentist an email telling her that we would be in Yuma by last night and could come to Mexico as early as tomorrow or when she had room for me. Her return email told me to meet her at her office and she would be waiting whenever I could get there. How’s that for an appointment? Has ANY US medical physician, dentist, etc ever told you that they would be waiting on you?

It was scary heading to and into Mexico. There is hardly anyone here as compared to January. From the exit on I-8 the two lane road passes by the Quechan Casino (better known as the Q) with separate parking lots for autos and RV’s, crosses the American Canal, continues past sandy hills that some RV’s park on, past the pay RV Park and to the Quechan Indian parking lot before arriving at the border crossing.

The parking lot for the RV’s at the Q was almost empty. The parking areas on the hills was almost empty. No one was parked along the sides of the roads leading up to the signs for no parking on either side even though the no parking area had been extended. The pay RV Park had many empty spaces. The parking lot at the border was about only 1/4th full. Where is everyone? Has the economy stopped the people from coming? Is there something going on that we don’t know about?

After parking and crossing the border, it was much of the same. No one is here compared to the past January’s. The street vendors and people who are employed by various pharmacies, dentists, optometrists, etc seem more desperate to get you to use their sponsors.

As you walk down the sidewalk lined with stores and offices you hear, “Can I help you? What are you looking for today? Are you looking for pharmacy, dentist, eye glasses? Everything on sale today, just for you and your girlfriend. Check us out. Hey sir, you need a haircut, Rolex, wallet? Lady, I have purse just for you.”

We arrived at the office of our Mexican Dentist, Janira Rodarte around 10am. She confirmed that I needed one root canal and metal post for my front tooth. If the price is right, I hope to get all four front teeth recapped since the original caps had been in place for 16 years. Since I am having problems with one, I don’t want to get back to the States and something happen to the other three and wind up in the same predicament.

Janira sent me to a specialist to start on the root canal and recheck the additional three. Manuela found that the tooth beside the first one also needed a root canal with metal post. The other two could just be recapped. And so the process began.

Manuela was very good about getting me numb. After getting the teeth prepped, she told me that my gums were too inflamed and angry to do the impressions for the posts today. She gave me a prescription for an antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory with pain medicine. It would be best for me to come back tomorrow morning to finish with her. I was in minimal discomfort but was not going to argue.

We went to the outdoor plaza/restaurant. Thomas ordered a coffee and we sat and watched the other patrons for a while. Of course, there were the street vendors winding through the tables hawking vases and plates, bracelets, jewelry, etc. While here, we asked other tourists if they thought the crowds were down for this time of year. They thought this was normal for this time of year and that it was a little more crowded this year. So maybe it is just this time of year and not the economy that is the difference.

As the numb starts to wear off the thumping becomes more pronounced. Time to find a pharmacy and take meds! The two prescriptions cost me $12 and no they don’t take insurance. That was the full cost.

Now to get back across the border. Where is the line of people waiting to go through the US border checkpoint? Where is the 1 ½-4 ½ hour wait we have usually experienced before? It is 1pm and it only took us 15 minutes to through the line and check point. This is strange. But with my pain starting to build, who am I to question this streak of luck?

Back to our home and to start on the meds. I fixed lunch and later supper. Thomas was so sweet. He put me to bed and told me he would clean up and take care of everything.

Hope everyone has a good night………