Day 21

Day 21

February 7, 2015

Miles: (driven) 2752

Miles: (Walked) 2.75

Run-ins with international police/armies: 0

(Ya know why? Cos we're smaht see...)

Well since we drove around Yuma last night, we found a place we wanted to try.  So DQ, Grumpy, the pack (who stayed in the truck with water of course), and myself headed out to the Yuma institution, Brownie's Cafe.  I wish I'd a gotten a picture of the diner.  It's quaint with its picturesque architecture that SCREAMS 1957 and the local folks that flood in here with hugs and real questions for one another beyond small talk.  It's a rather welcoming place (in some instances), very hometown though, for sure!  

After breakfast was the Bark Park and then Fresh Market Saturday!!! I got all kinds of fruits and vegetables for supper Monday night with the Marine!  

I'm so excited to see him, I can't even BEGIN!! Ugh, I'm annoying myself!!!  The market was awesome though.  We really did have a good time wandering about but, dude, it got hot fast!

Today was SUPER warm, like 88 at one point.  We couldn't get cool so DQ and I headed over to the camp pool and spa.  Blessing!!!

A little pool time and a little sunbathing made today that much more better.  Who would have guessed the first week of February I'd be lounging by the pool while my house is almost freezing?? Weird.

Now for the international portion of our day: DQ decided we needed to go ahead and walk to Mexico for the rest of the afternoon.  I'm not going to lie and say I was all gung-ho about this, cos honestly DQ speaks horrible wannabe Spanglish and my Spanish isn't very fluent anymore.  Add in the fact DQ is a little conspicuous and we're almost sitting ducks.  So my anxiety was a little high.  I text The Boy to ask that he message me to make sure we made it back across the border tonight.  I can't trust that Grumpy would notice until he got hungry and no one was there to make him something to eat.  Sounds horrible, but definitely my reality.  Either way, The Boy knew we were crossing the border and what time we should be back by.... Just in case, ya know.

Mexico was kinda awesome though.  I had never been to Los Algodones but it was interesting.  I read up on it a bit before we went and it was suggested we try El Paraiso for a nosh.  We finally found it and OH GOODNIGHT NURSE!!

The Patio was a perfect blend of American influence in a Mexican town.  I love the native colors and life, but of course they played all Elvis. 

 Haha!!  And the food...  I'm not much for eating anymore, but damn was their tortilla soup amazing.  

Even better than Chuy's (and y'all know how I feel about my Chuy's!!).  DQ had their Mole Chicken and she loved it!  

She also had a margarita.  If you've never had a margarita in Mexico, you should be warned now.  These are not your Americanized, watered-down, poor excuse for a margarita.  These bad boys are POTENT! As DQ quickly found out.  A few sips in and she was beyond buzzed (made for an interesting walk back to the border and through customs, sheesh!).

After our quick little nosh, we popped into a pharmacy and liquor store.  Both seriously needed supplies! 

Dramas:

Right, well I realized the sun had gone down at this point and remembered a few stories I had read about warnings for Americans in border towns after dark.  I know most stories are probably speculation or simply propaganda, but I didn't want to be a statistic, just in case.  Well DQ and I are heading back to the international line when I notice the military fatigues in the middle of the road.  The Mexican army was hassling pedestrians walking along the streets and cars lined up to cross the border.  I realized we were going to have a problem if we got stopped, so I rushed a stumbling DQ down the street as quickly as possible.  I don't think I've ever been so anxious to get back into America!! It was a little terrifying trying to get DQ safely across, luckily, she noticed the rather large guns they were carrying and realized what our goal was!  I made sure she was ahead of me until we got onto American soil.  Sheesh!! 

That was a little too much drama for me!!

I'm grateful for the medicine we got for me, that I desperately needed. And the nice little afternoon snack/lunch we had was wonderful, but I don't think I'll be getting close to the border that late in the day, ever again...

All in all it has been a seriously busy stinkin day, man!

I'm exhausted! Tomorrow is our last day in Yuma so maybe we'll get a little rest.  

I love you for being there even when you aren't.

I miss sharing things with you.

Goodnight

Xx