A day in Algodones, Mexico
A day in Algodones, Mexico
First off, I need to say that I have the best community of followers to this little blog. You guys left THE best captions for my photo yesterday. I was smiling all day as I read them. So thanks so much for all of that.
As I mentioned the other day, one reason we came to Yuma this year was to go to Algodones. I called a dentist a friend referred me to for an appointment, we did that yesterday. But Tuesday we decided to go over as well. It’s only 20 minutes away, we wanted to find the dentist office, and we also wanted to shop.
I knew from past experience that shopping in Mexico can be…..different. Everyone wants the American dollar there. I don’t blame them, it’s just how it is. You can’t go 5 feet without someone trying to sell you something. And usually the same something the guy five feet behind you had. But the people are pleasant, funny and enjoyable.
When this guy tried to sell me a giant pot, I told him I was only there to take photos. So he grabbed the biggest pot he had, and posed for me.
People were very helpful too. We were trying to find the dentist office and asked a local if he knew where it was, He didn’t, but he asked a few more guys until someone knew the answer.
Everything that comes from Mexico is just more colorful. The pottery, the textiles, jewelry. All of it.
I did find a very nice table cloth just the right size for my table in the RV, and the colors are very nice earthy tones. We found a rug that Al can put on the floor under his easel. Yes, he has got a spot or two of oil paint on the carpet. I was very tempted to buy a wool hand loomed rug, they are beautiful and so cheap there. But, where to put it. I did buy a tiny one that hangs on my wall now.
We had a nice lunch too. The place was packed with snowbirds. We always feel like the young ones when we go places like this.
We stopped at the same place again on Wednesday after the dentist. The guys working there sure hustle, but they took a second to pose for me.
The saddest part is seeing the little kids, and the old ladies. The kids moms try to sell little trinkets to make some money to feed everyone. I gave this little cutie’s mom some money to take his photo, and him 2 quarters. His face lit up when I gave him the change. I’m sure he didn’t get to keep it though.
Both days were fun, and I would go back again for sure.
And I’m sure you are all wondering about the dentist. Like I said we talked to a friend and got a referral. He was polite, knowledgeable, and got right to what we needed doing. Al went first and had a chipped tooth ground smooth, he didn’t need a cleaning. The dentist said his teeth were fine. I was next. I did need a cleaning, which the dentist did, but everything looked great otherwise. $60 later and we were on our way. Can’t beat that.
Lovely and colourful but sad about the poverty. Have a tremendous Thursday.
Best wishes Molly
What a fun time, shopping and people watching.. And the dentist price without insurance was great… Loved the photos, have a happy day!
Oh, the stories I could tell you about our times in Mexico!! I am so glad you had a good experience at the dentist!! Good to hear! The colors are wonderful, aren’t they?? I have gotten some WONDERFUL jewelry there! The one restaurant we ate at…nobody spoke English…not a soul. Found out after we left that we had been served GOAT! Yikes!! Glad you are in warm temps! I cannot wait to head south…
LOL Goat?? We didn’t have that problem thankfully.
Precious children, precious people. I am of Mexican heritage (my father was born in central Mexico of Spanish heritage from Spain) and once in a while, he’d drive us to T.J. and I remember seeing these dear kids, trying to sell Chiclets gum. Their experience as Hispanics was so different from my “cushy” life (or so I thought), living in the city in a clean home with food, shelter, clothing.
You capture the colors of life Mary. So gorgeous. Anita
From past experience in TJ I was ready for the Chicle’ selling kids. I had a pocket full of quarters and 1 dollar bills. It is sad to see them. But I do know that they value the children so much there, and try their very best to take good care of them.
Yes, the Mexican people are hard-working and so warm! What a great family I had – all the aunts and uncles and cousins….such a rich life of fun and food, tradition and now all of that is memory.
I WAS wondering about the dentist. But if the dentist did a great job, $60 was a bargain! I
The place id packed with dentists and optometrists. And snowbirds taking advantage of cheap prices on both.
I love the colors and the people have such warm smiles.
It was refreshingly colorful, and the people were wonderful.
I love going to Mexico. I’ve been several times, on both coasts. You have to be comfortable haggling on prices or you will pay way too much for things. I remember on our very first trip back in the late 80’s, you even had to haggle on the price of taxi rides.
I remember going to Tijuana once with my mom. She haggled with the guy so much he got pissed off and told us to leave.
can’t beat that, indeed! i paid $85 for a cleaning this week just for me. :)
love these photos. you’re right about the kids working hard to support the families, though.
I am so happy that I started following along – your travels and photos are so interesting! My mom was an ESL teacher and had a great love for South and Central American culture so I grew up with an appreciation for Mexico.
I’m very happy you are following along too! Mexico is a country with a lot of diversity. I have enjoyed every trip I have made there.
What a cute face that little child has!
Great pictures – thanks for sharing :-)
It sounded like a great trip even you had to go to the dentist :)
Simply fantastic and I can feel the warmth of the sun through the photos. That pot is exquisite and those 2 handsome guys down near the bottom aren’t too shabby either! Glad all went well at the dentist and you are right ….can’t beat $60!
Sixty bucks for both of us was great. I just wish we could medical care too. The people were so friendly, and yes, cute.
The photos are beautiful and so, so colorful!
I’m always saddened when I see the children, the impoverished and the animals. It breaks my heart and I wish there was a way I could help.
I went both days with a pocketful of quarters and one dollar bills.
I miss Mexico…been a long time.
Looks like you had a great time there!
Beautiful Photos too!
I love your photos!! It does look so colorful there! I’ve never been to Mexico! I was thinking about going there, too for dental work!! :D
Yes on the dental work. I don’t know about other border towns, but Algodones caters to the dental and optical needs of Americans.
Lots of Germans go to Cuba for vacation and to get dental work done because they do a wonderful job and it is so cheap. I’m sure if you have a good dentist in Mexico it is similar.
$60! that is awesome…you cannot walk in to our dentist office for less that $150…let alone work done!…:)JP
Mike really loves to spend money when we travel because it’s an easy way to meet people and to practice his language skills. I can only imagine what he would have come up with in the market from your pictures.
But your idea of thanking someone for allowing you to take pictures is one idea I’ll suggest to him. Images take up far less room than pots.
The poverty is so sad. :( Beautiful photos!
$60 for both of you, seriously? No, you certainly can’t beat that. Along with the fact that they didn’t give Al a cleaning whether he needed it or not!
The shopping looks like fun.
That was a great and inexpensive dentist! It does sound like the locals are super nice but seeing the people barely scraping by always tugs at my heart. And then there are the dogs who have every rib visible…
But the colors and festive atmosphere can’t be beat!
My Papa has had a good experience with cheap and no-nonsense dentistry in Central America. Apparently he had a stubborn baby tooth that wouldn’t come out when he was a kid, and at the U.S. dentist could NOT handle a novocaine needle. So he went to a dentist in the D.R. She sat him down, put on latex gloves, and just yanked the tooth out by hand. Didn’t hurt him, or anyone’s wallet. ;)
He also says that, apparently, cultures closer to the equator tend to recognize more distinct color categories. Guess things are just brighter as you get away from the poles. *wags* – Gilligan from WagsAhoy.com