Mexico... How I hate you.

Ever wondered what the Tropical rainforest feels like? Like a sauna... a really hot freaking sauna that you can't escape no matter how hard you try, all you can do is sit there sweaty, sticky and wishing you would just wake up from that nightmare but you never do.

Beautiful? of  course it is... can you enjoy the beauty? Hell no... it's too hot to think. Anywho, being that I can't really think here are some pictures....

-Roby

What I've learned:
...god hates me.

Part 3! the end of Juarez...

Pesos and a quarter

Warning! kinda of a boring update but it has pictures!

Tuesday was my Medical appointment. Everything went well in there other than being embarrased by having to strip naked for the doctor and getting 4 shots. Later Chris and I met up with another couple doing the same process. I met her online! (oh the wonders of the internet). We roamed around the mall, had lunch, they where telling us about what it's like in Mexico city. It was interesting hearing more about mexican culture.

Yeah, we went back to the same place.

We went to the hotel afterwards and hung out in the room for most of the day. Later for dinner we met up with my friend and her husband for dinner. We had Papa Johns pizza delivered (not nearly as good as other food here lol) we where talking for a while then it was off to bed.

Wednesday we didn't have anything to do so we mostly just hung out at the hotel room, we did go to the grocery store again mostly just to look around since there isn't much to do in the "safe area" other than eat, shop, and get screwed over with this immigration process. We did see a Pepsi that is only available in mexico, which has a lot of caffeine and ginseng (you can really taste the caffeine in it!).

Only 7 pesos! that's only 50c

I was itchy all day but I figured it was just because of the water, around bed time I was Super Itchy! I felt my knee and there was something bumpy, I turned the lights on and noticed I was covered in hives! they where like huge welts, Later I realized it was an allergic reaction to the flu shot (I'm still itchy!) I was getting worried since the next day was my visa appointment and I didn't want to show up looking diseased! finally after a while I managed to fall asleep.

This morning I woke up in an itchy panic and went straight to the mirror. The hives where not visible, I thought it was better than looking weird but now I was itchy and in pain. (My hands hurt right now and the welts are coming back.) The appointment went well and I got was told I could apply for a waiver. It was check out time back at the hotel so when I got there Chris had already fixed the car up and got everything ready to go.

We ended up booking another night since my aunt and uncle are coming to pick us up. They are coming by bus. So, another night will be good, we can sleep tonight and take off early morning. Later, After I got back from the visa appointment and booking a two bed room, we met with my friend and her husband again since her appointment was around the same time. We talked about how it went and it was also her birthday so afterwards we went to celebrate!

6 beers for 6 dollars!

We had a nice meal and they had some drinks. We went back to the hotel, and went over some paperwork. Then we went to the store for more soda and snacks, Oh this time at the store I noticed these drinks...

Yep. Crunch drink.

This picture is for you G!

Oh yeah, on our way back from the store we got our hair cut, nothing fancy. Just a trim on mine and Chris got his usual hair cut. Now we are just waiting... hopefully tomorrow we leave Juarez early.

...Then the roadtrip through Mexico starts! (oh god... )

 -Roby

What I've Learned:
...I have an allergic reaction to flu shots.

Roadtrip! Episode II

Arizona

Now lets see... where did I left off? oh yeah, Bonsais! it's funny, Mexico has a lot of sushi restaurants. Well, more than what I would have expected. Nice ones too. Well let me backtrack.

Saturday night we left San Diego, Drove through Arizona and made it to New Mexico. The ride was pretty and we got to see some interesting things on the way. One of those things was the Border fence. It reminded me of a big black snake. Right across from it though there was some guys riding the sand dunes!

Arizona/Mexican fence

Sand dunes!

Arizona was a nice drive, very scenic.

Beautiful sunsets in Arizona

We stayed the night at a Days inn in New Mexico. In the morning we headed to Texas. Texas by the way was a boring drive.

Entrance to the Days Inn

Bye bye! New Mexico

Texas

After getting to El Paso we went to a walmart to get the oil in the car changed. Stopped at a Starbucks to use the internet and get directions to the hotel in Mexico. Well Ladies and Gentleman.. That's the LAST time I will ever use Google maps for a different country. 

Hello Mexico!

Oh shit... it really is mexico!!

Right when we entered there was a tank with a turret on top of it, and soldiers with very big guns. They where telling us to just move along. They didn't check the car or anything. Five minutes into Mexico and tada! we are LOST! The streets where different, the people where driving all over the place, and google maps failed me for the first time.

After asking directions from drivers next to us and getting more lost into the "paths less traveled" by tourist I started getting really scared, finally we stopped at a convenience store and asked for directions again. A couple of guys where there buying beer and I got the guts to asked them if they could drive us there. They agreed and thank god! they drove right up to the hotel. We would have never found it so we gave them 500 pesos for their help.

Yey! Highly secured hotel with guards!

So, we got to the hotel and we are about to check in when.... We locked the keys in the car. Well at least we where at the hotel. They ended up calling the maintenance guy (everyone was really polite) he opened it with a coat hanger. It was quite a day let me tell you... Oh by the way... it was also our 2 year anniversary!

After hearing all the horror stories about Juarez all I wanted to do was just lock myself in the hotel room. However, my husband had other plans... He wanted to explore the area! (oh god...)  This area is a nice secured area so I agreed (didn't have much of a choice). We went to a shopping center near by and checked out their Office depot and a grocery store. After a while we got hungry so we ended up at a little restaurant.
 

Quesadilla!

His was flour

We got the food and I fixed it up, added onions, cilantro and what not. While I was doing this I looked up and noticed Chris' face. I wasn't sure what was going on... I hadn't tried my food yet so I was worried that it tasted bad. He then proceeded to tell me that it was the best meat he ever tasted, after a "that's what she said" joke, I took a bite out of mine... The meat tasted fresh, juicy, flavorful...  I can't describe it. It's as if my taste buds had awoken and started singing "hallelujah" (this was a "fast food" place btw) and the tortilla! my god... I didn't know tortillas had a taste...

This morning I woke up early since it was my fingerprint appointment today. Got ready and took the Hotels shuttle to the place. They dropped us off right in front and it was a nice area with lots of people, pretty safe. Afterwards we wondered around for a little bit. I heard there was a mall near by so we decided to take a look... It makes newpark mall look like something that should be in Mexico. Take a look!

It was a really nice and well kept mall. The public phones look really neat too!

After a while we got hungry so we ended up at the food court. There was a wendys in there as well as the usual stuff, hot dogs, pizza, burgers... Then I saw this...

I had to try it.. I just had to. So I ordered a "Torta" figuring that the food from the day before was just a delicious fluke.

It. Was. Not. I can't describe it... so I'm not going to try. 

Oddly enough the only thing I didn't like about everything that I have eaten here was the potato chips they served with it. They tasted too potatoey...

The Mall also has an IMAX theater.

Maybe we will go watch a movie later for now we are back at the hotel hanging out. Tomorrow I have to go do my medical. Kinda sad that I am missing Halloween with my niece but.. hopefully I'll be there next year.

-Roby

What I've Learned:
...unless you want to print out "street view" for your entire destination, Don't use google maps outside the U.S.