Los Algodones, Mexico
Just a 7 mile trip from Yuma to Los Algodones, which officially, the border crossing is at Andrade, California. From our RV Park (Cocopah) we could walk across the field and be at the border crossing but with the canals and the roads/fields of agriculture, we drive out and around.
Well, snowbirds are a "huge" part of the business in Algodones; "within a 4 block radius, more doctors, dentists, pharmacies and opticians are found than in a similar four block area anywhere else in the world."
When you enter the area, you are immediately bombarded with "do you need drugs, do you need a dentist, do you need glasses and then there are the vendors with clothes, carpets, pottery and jewellry - how much you want to spend, how many you want? "The best around - genuine - try it on"
...they will try to drape the 'gold' chains over your wrists. All-in-all, a busy place, the majority have a great sense of humour and it's fun, but exhausting by the end of a day.
If you're in the market for eyeglasses this is the place. If you don't have a prescription you have an eye exam, pick out your frames, and within three hours you have the glasses, you pay cash and away you go. Approx $100-160.00 for frames & transition lenses; Marc got his first pair of transition glasses. Glasses are as cheap as $49.00 but restrictions apply.
If you're in the market for eyeglasses this is the place. If you don't have a prescription you have an eye exam, pick out your frames, and within three hours you have the glasses, you pay cash and away you go. Approx $100-160.00 for frames & transition lenses; Marc got his first pair of transition glasses. Glasses are as cheap as $49.00 but restrictions apply.
Medications - can pick up antibiotics (eg Amoxicillin 500 mg - 100 caps for $3.00), codeine (only by prescription in Arizona) but over the counter here; Ampicillin, Prozac, Viagra, Penicillin, etc (all without prescription).
Friends of ours had dental work done - within about 4 hours, 4 crowns, a root canal & incredible temporaries were completed. I don't remember the cost but seems to me it was about $600 for all.
The line up to go back across the border looks long but it only took about 20 mins as a walk through. Not many take their vehicles & I don't know how that would go but parking in Algodones looks nightmarish.
Friends of ours had dental work done - within about 4 hours, 4 crowns, a root canal & incredible temporaries were completed. I don't remember the cost but seems to me it was about $600 for all.
The line up to go back across the border looks long but it only took about 20 mins as a walk through. Not many take their vehicles & I don't know how that would go but parking in Algodones looks nightmarish.
Spray painted pictures! Need for a mask, this artist produces incredible pictures on lanterns/mailboxes etc with just spray can paints.
People have a soft spot for the children, like these young boys shining shoes, . . .
and children selling little trinkets on the street - like these tiny turtles for $1.00 each.
It is recommended to not say until dark or after closing; and like alot of cities and towns, Algodones has a dark side. Has been reported that the Green Door pub has quite the reputation.
(Left Yuma Tues, March 8th for Hemet, California).
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