Ola from Mexico

Here in New Mexico there are few clouds and no hint of rain.  The sun rises and sets every day.  We have proof of sunsets.  Gotta love that about the desert.  Today the temperature in Silver City is a mild 64 degrees (this is in the mountains and at a higher elevation than warmer cities).  We left Silver City this morning for Columbus, New Mexico.  This is a border town, not really a town-more of a village, with Palomas, Mexico.  We didn't really know what to do to cross the border so we drove towards the border.  Easy peezy.  There was a parking lot off to the side of the border inspection station which we pulled in to.  The temperature has warmed up but not killer hot so Sid was fine in the van.


Al, on the US side of the border



 We walked across the border.  We weren't really sure where to go.  The way wasn't clearly marked but Al said that they would certainly tell us if we were in the wrong place-they had machine guns.  The only person who talked to us was a Mexican who wanted us to buy cheap sunglasses.  We headed for the Pink Store.  Once inside, the clerk offered us a beverage.  As polite Canadians, we declined.  The clerk said beverages were complimentary if you shop in the store.  Dos cervezas, por favor!!!  Score!!  We had a good Mexican lunch there.  It was great fun.  There was music and a party atmosphere.



Dos XX por favor



 We met some Canadians from London and Windsor.  They didn't know Jeff Piro.  We bought souvenirs-fun stuff.  We walked one block back to the border, handed over our passports, told them we didn't have alcohol or tobacco and they said, "Have a nice day."

Along the highway there are signs about dust storms which cause "dust outs" the desert equivalent of a white-out. We had to clear a Border Patrol checkpoint just south of Deming.  Our windows in the van were down and I looked out at a border patrolman and his dog.  The dog looked like Aurora.  She (the dog) and I made eye contact.  The dog started towards the van and I thought, "Oh no, we're going to be searched."  Sure 'nuff, the border guard came up to my window and I held my breathe as he said, "Y'all got a dog in there?"  Wow, the sniffer dog sniffed out Sid from about 30 feet.  Whew, no search.