2014 trip to Mexico-2

A big improvement on this trip that we have communication for a good price. We bought a Verizon cellphone at Walmart for 19.99, the price includes 10 $ worth of airtime. The clerk activated it in 10 minutes and we were ready. It's a "pay as you go", you can recharge it in every Walmart or Verizon store. For Internet we still had to find WiFi, I did not want to invest in anything when we are on the road for a month only.  January 24th we crossed the border around 11 am, quick inspection but everything OK and we were on the road in 5 minutes. We choose Hwy Mex 3 to Ensenada to stay away from the Tijuana area. We drove trough wine country and it shows. This part of the Baja is rich, lot of big wineries, I heard that even from the southern part of the Baja they haul the grapes up here because the wine industry is very strong here. In a bit over 2 hrs we made it to Ensenada, big busy city but no problem with the traffic, the GPS is a big help to find our first Mexican Walmart. Stocking up the fridge, also needed some good bread, beer and we checked out the whole store. We also figured out how to buy rolls, pastries, everything bulk in the bakery. You grab a big tray from the clerk, put everything on it and he will bag it for you. Walmart is cheaper than in the US but not much, we are still too close to the border. After shopping we are headed to our camping for the first night: Villarino's RV Park. 20 bucks/night with full hook up, nice and quiet and right on the beach. The park has a glass wall like a fence on the beach with lights on the top, looks good at night. Still good reception of US TV channels via air.

 

Made it to Ensenada early in the afternoon.

 

 

Our first experience with a Mexican Walmart.

 

Nice sandy beach at Villarino's RV Park.

 

The entrance to the park. It's a bit SW of Ensenada in La Bufadora.

 

The new Pemex station a few miles before Villarino's is like a botanical garden, it was nice and warm and full of flowers. Also a good place to get some purified water.

2014 trip to Mexico

We have been to Mexico before but only on a short trip. I have been planning it for a long time to go further south on the Baja and now I could take enough time off to go for a month. Left on the 18th of January on an unusually warm day. Did not hurry at all, made it down south to California, even more sun, taking more pictures. Since I also work for a trucking magazine we stopped at many Truck Stops just for taking pictures. Spent a few nights at Truck Stops, Walmarts, also one night at Dana Pt. State Park in California because it cost us over 3 hours to drive trough LA and it was late & dark when we got to the coast.

 

Left home on a nice and sunny day on the 18th of January.

 

That's going to be home for a month.

 

The first shock after we entered California: I have seen Shasta Lake many times before but never so low. Hundreds of houseboats in drydock.

 

Spent a few nights at Truck Stops just for taking pictures and use the RV facilities.

 

 

Have you seen a church with truck parking?  Probably not that's why a Truck Stop provides a Chapel for the Big Rig drivers. (Flying J Bakersfield,  California)

 

 

In Castaic just north of LA we always stop for a very good taco.

 

Dana Pt. State Park California. At 33 $/night we wont be regulars there but it's a night place.

 

Not bad for January 23.

 

Last campsite ( Potrero Park) in California before we cross the Mexican border. It's only 6 miles from the border so you can go the day before you cross, get your paperwork done, ( tourist card, insurance,) and the next morning it's a smooth sailing into Mexico.

Time is flying, we are flying.

3 weeks are gone too fast. You just start to get used to be there and all of a sudden its over, time to go back. We also flew back from Munich, Germany, so there is another day and a half driving. One more dinner with the kids and Grandkids, one more visit with my mom and had to hit the road. We planned another overnight stop again in Passau where we worked for years. It's not even 2 hrs from the airport so it was easier the next day. We flew from Munich to Toronto and from Toronto to Victoria with a 6 hr stop at Pearson.  We got home and said: for a year we don't want to see the inside of  an airplane, it was too much.

On the way to visit my Mom .......

.........we stopped for a cafe at a nice Truck Stop about 80 km south of Budapest.

The famous Hungarian herb liquor Unicum is made here.

                                  

Another day and a half on busy freeways on the way back to Munich airport.

We have seen this greeter at the entrance of a restaurant in Austria.

An Airstream travel trailer converted to an aircraft serving cafe at the Munich airport.

Final break, Toronto Pearson Airport. We had a smaller plane to Victoria.

Mr. Grandson is 7 months old now.

 

Driving around.

In such a short visit is always a lot if driving involved. Good thing our rental was with unlimited mileage because I drove 6400 km in 3 weeks. It was May and the car was covered with Mosquitoes, hard work to clean it even at the car wash. Also wanted to visit a few nice places in the country, so one afternoon we ended up at a National Heritage Site: Szentendre, just an hour drive north of Budapest. It's a display of old country village houses from around the turn of the 19th century, all the buildings beautifully preserved.

Here is what you get when you drive a lot: Ford Focus/Mosquito Hybrid

Taking the Grandkids to the Playground: they have no fear, not so the Oldtimer.

Their favorite ride....

.....it actually slides about 15 meters.

It's a Pirate ship

The Newcomer is about a week old.

In Szentendre.....

....it's a beautiful National Heritage Site.

It even has a working windmill.

After the long day the gang is resting at the Danube.

On the way home I had to stop and snap a picture of the Hungarian Parliament.

 

Diet is not an option!

If you are visiting the country where you grew up you are most likely going to eat too much. You have only so much time and want to try everything, sometimes you see something you have to try. The question was: how much weight are we going to gain in 3 weeks. Surprise: we did not gain a pound! Here are a few pictures from our culinary tour in Hungary.

Our everyday Breakfast.

My wife with 2 friends. The 3 of them have been working together for over 10 years. Wanted just a cafe but we ended up with a hot sandwich. It just looked so good!

Going to the market you can't resist the "Lángos", the famous Hungarian specialty.

The biggest market hall in Budapest is a National Heritage Site. Dozens of tour buses are bringing the hungry crowd.

Even the labels are in English. In the middle: sausage wrapped in bacon. Forget about diet!

When I was driving through Turkey for almost a decade this was our favorite beer. My friend brought me a dozen, the only question was: bottle or can?

Visiting another National Heritage Site: Szentendre. Of course we ended up in the restaurant. At the time I was thinking of taking a picture of our very good meal it was all gone.

A food stand on the street downtown. Could you just walk by?

On the way home after visiting my Mom we stopped at a waterfront restaurant famous for it's fish.

Visiting my Older daughter meant another dinner you could not resist. Here is my younger daughter with the 2 hungry grandsons.

Family & Friends

We had only 3 weeks ( travel included ) to visit as many friends and family as possible. In 3 weeks I drove 6400 km, more than when I'm working. We had our home base near Budapest at my Sister in Law's house, to drive to see my Mom is 300 km, to see my Grandsons is another 500 km, it adds up before you know it. But it was fun, good to see my Mother, kids, friends. Of course most of those visits included  a meal, we didn't dare to step on a scale to check how much we gained.

Our home base near Budapest, my Sister in Law's place

The happy female department.

Killing a huge pizza somewhere on the road

My mother, her brother and my younger daughter

We have been working together and been friends for over 30 years

My late brother's daughter, the 2 Angels and her husband.

The famous Café Anna in downtown Budapest

My 2 older Grandsons, both crazy about John Deer. Of course all of our presents

 ( well almost) were their favorite brand

It's not a John Deer but it makes noise. 2 happy kids.