January 23, 2010: Granny and the Border Patrol



The words "Go shop and have a good time" are echoed by Brian Levin, Public Affairs Liaison for US Customs and Border Protection, that shopping in (Mexican) border towns is still being encouraged. "I can reassure people that we will not deny entry to a US citizen," he said. We will accept photo I.D. and a birth certificate if they don't have a passport."....2010 Winter Visitor Guide published by the White Sheet www.whitesheetonline.net


When my friend, Marge, called to ask if I'd like to accompany her to Mexico for her dental appointment, I jumped at the offer. In fact, I asked her to make an appointment for me too, as I had recently broken off a big chunk of molar while biting down on a piece of hard candy, and was beginning to suffer from occasional toothaches.

We left Bouse at 6:30 yesterday morning, arriving in Mexico in plenty of time for our 9:00 a.m. appointments. Before entering, I double checked to make sure there would be no problem re-entering the country with no passport, only my driver's license and birth certificate. The man in the information booth assured me that either (passport or license/birth certificate) was acceptable.

It was a bit disconcerting to see three soldiers, masked, dressed in camouflage and armed with big rifles, at the entrance to Mexico. I'd expect that in Tijuana or even Nogales, but never in this quiet little town of Los Algadonis!

Arriving at the dentist promptly at nine, the receptionist apologized for her error, and said the dentist wouldn't arrive until ten. We spent the next hour wandering the streets and alleys, as usual being assaulted from all sides by zealous merchants, who delighted in laughing at this old lady when I told them "Do not touch". I really dislike having strangers grabbing at my arms to try to sell me something. We bought a few things from the pharmacy, then made our way back to the dentist's office. I was the first one to be called in. I was impressed at the cleanliness of my surroundings, and with the young female dentist, who spoke excellent English, with no trace of accent. Actually, most of the medical/dental/optical practitioners are from the US, and travel across the border daily to do their business. This office was equipped with the latest in dental technology...the x-rays were immediately viewable on the computer screen right in front of me. After viewing the "damage", I was given the options of root canal, insertion of a metal post and capping the tooth......or pulling it. Since the tooth was way in the back, and it wouldn't interfere that much with chewing, I opted for pulling. Seventy dollars, including x-rays, vs $500.

Marge went in next, but came right back out. The dentist wouldn't pull her tooth, as she said it was a healthy one, but would do a root canal. Marge decided to wait on hers.

A friend of Marge's had accompanied us, and had gone shopping while we were at the dentist's. Not knowing Marge was going to be in for such a short time, she was in no hurry to return to us. Marge and I stood on the street corner watching for her for nearly an hour before she finally returned.

We headed for the border, where Marge and Venita went right through with their passports. As I approached, I said "I checked before I came in, and they said my birth certificate and license were good for re-entry, I hope they are." Well, they weren't. I was severely admonished, and told it didn't make any difference what "they" had said, a passport was necessary. When asked why I didn't have one, I informed him I hadn't planned on breaking a tooth, which was the only reason I had for crossing the border. He took all the information from my driver's license, refused to even glance at my birth certificate, saying it was useless, gave me a notice of non-compliance and let me through. Thank heavens, I wasn't held and interrogated!

By then we were starving! I hadn't eaten anything since dinner the night before, and had only one cup of coffee upon arising. We decided to check out the new Indian casino nearby, where we got $10 in free play for applying for their players' club card, and the most excellent lunch buffet for only $6.95 with said card. I had to stick to soft foods after my extraction. That was no problem at this buffet. They had all kinds of vegetables, mashed or baked potatoes, baked fish, the best meat loaf I've ever eaten, fruit salads, Jello salads and soft fruits, and a delightful dessert bar with a delicious Boston Cream Pie that was plenty soft for my sore jaw. Marge and Venita got to enjoy Beef Burgundy, Roast Pork with Plum Sauce, assorted hors d'oeuvres.....just a multitude of delicious dishes from which to choose! I definitely want to visit again, when I'm able to eat everything in sight!

After we left the casino (a few dollars lighter than when entering), we spent the remaining daylight hours following Venita around Yuma while she shopped two different shoe stores, Best Buy, Target and Joanne's Fabrics. When, around 6:00 p.m., she wanted to go shopping at Wal-Mart, we said "ENOUGH!". My jaw was throbbing, we were exhausted, and it was beginning to rain. We just wanted to get home!

So we made it back safely, spotted three wild burros on the way, I didn't get stuck in Mexico for life (but I can't do it again without the proper documents), and my tooth will ache no more.

Adios, amigos.

27 comments:

  1. You lead the life of adventure! Secret Agent Granny. Country skipping at a whim, thumbing her nose at border patrols and risking tooth and stomach in the face of danger.

    You're my hero (note over zealous swoon).

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  2. What a great story! You are more adventurous than we; and traveling to Mexico is no longer on our list of places to visit. Our last time there we found the cost of so many things having risen dramatically, but I'm happy to hear your dental work was inexpensive and satisfactory.

    My husband is currently helping with a company in order to provide lower cost dental crowns. A friend of ours in San Diego (85 years young) says she refuses to pay $1500 for a crown at this point in her life, and who can blame her. There is a need for lower priced dental work, and happy you found some. ;) And after hearing about that buffet, I'm headed to the kitchen!

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  3. Geez, that must have been hairy for a few minutes at the border. Too bad I'm not closer to the border, bet a root canal & crown doesn't cost 2 grand in Mexico.

    Glad your tooth won't be bothering you anymore!

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  4. That post was fascinating to me! I can't believe the screw up at the border though - I would have been really stressed by that!!! Thanks for the good read Granny!

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  5. Ribbit, you are a hoot. And you're my hero!

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    Di, I feel like your friend. I'm going to be 71 in a few days, I don't need to have anything guaranteed to last for fifty years! Make it cheaper, for heaven's sake.

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    Kelly, this was one of the better places (appointments, not men in the street trying to get you to enter the establishment). There are cheaper places, but I worry about their ability and their cleanliness...no worries where we went. Root canal and crown, $495 total. RX for Ibuprofin 400mg (100 tablets), and Amoxicilin 500mg (100 capsules)cost a total of $12.45. What on earth will I do with 100 capsules of Amoxicilin, LOL? That was the smallest amount sold.

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  6. Kate, it was upsetting, considering the two sources that said what I had was acceptable. I certainly would not have attempted the border crossing if I hadn't been told it was OK.

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  7. Quite an adventure! Glade the dentist went well after reading about it in your comments. It amazes me the cost of health care in the States, just crazy! Sorry to hear about the re-entry problems. That border agent was lucky to let you back in, I bet you could have taken him :-)

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  8. Hi, Granny!

    I just wanted to add that the last time I went to Mexico (early 2000s), it was fine to go with birth certificate and driver's license, and in fact when my sis and I came back over the border, the official barely checked our licenses at all. He laughed and said it was obvious we were American when I anxiously asked if that would be enough.

    However, I learned a few weeks later that that situation would only last six more months. They changed the laws after 9/11 to make it more difficult for would-be terrorists to come in.

    Good for you, having the courage to get what you needed for a reasonable price! Medical expenses are really a shame in this country.

    We went across the bridge into Ciudad Juarez last time, my sis and I, and I will not be going back, with all that's been happening there lately. :(

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  9. Sorry that happened, you must have just had total jerks at reentry - I've never had an issue with just ID, when I have crossed it has usually been at Calexico. I can't stand the constant accosting from strangers down there. On the return trip in addition to the usual window washers not taking no for an answer, there are always like 5-8 year old kids exposing themselves, probably their parents send them out to try and panhandle for drug money. Unfortunately we are usually at a dead stop in a long line and have to put up with it, just lock our doors! Glad at least you got your tooth done!

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  10. Meredith, we've had no problem with entry from Los Algadonis as recently as January 2009. That is when they were going to begin requiring passports, then I heard they extended that deadline until June. Up until January, I only had to declare that I was a US citizen, and show my driver's license. I wouldn't have even attempted the trip if I hadn't read that article and reconfirmed it with a border guard. It seems, as with many things now days, the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing.

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  11. Dan, I'll bet I could have, too. ;-)

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  12. Erin, I'm sorry too, 'cause I had another $1200 in dental work to be done (which would be well over $5000 in the states), and now I'll have to put it off until next year, if I even come down here next year!

    At least we don't have beggars, window washers and perverts in Los Algadonis, just annoying little men grabbing your arm and trying to sell you stuff, or standing on the sidewalk trying to get you in their pharmacy/dentist/optical place of business. I've never seen a child in that town, just a bunch of elderly people, trying to get a deal on their medicines, glasses, dentures, etc. It's not in the least frightening, just annoying. When I took my granddaughter there for a visit, she (and she's 1/2 Mexican) hated it! Se would tell those guys "Keep your hands off my Grandma!" She found them annoying when they'd call her Dora the Explorer, but with her haircut, that's exactly who she looked like!

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  13. Quite an adventure AG! You deserved the good buffet meal after such a day!

    Glad the pesky tooth got taken care of though. Nothing worse then an aching tooth.

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  14. Kitsap, maybe this aching jaw is a wee bit worse than the toothache. That molar was rooted pretty tight! I passed on the RX for a stronger pain killer, preferring to be a brave Granny. Now I wish I had them ;-)

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  15. Gran, I love your stories! They are so funny. I wish I was there to witness your exchange....I'm hoping you gave your interrogator a bit of sass.

    70 bucks???!!! That's less than what I pay for our dental insurance each month! There's something wrong when hard working Americans have to cross borders in order to get medical care.

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  16. Thomas, I didn't sass (he'd probably detained me if I had), but I do wish the "Public Affairs Liaison for US Customs and Border Protection" and the Customs/Border Patrol would get on the same page. I'm all for protecting our borders, but they shouldn't publish one thing and enforce another.

    Yes, it is sad. Thank heavens we have Medicare, but it's too bad that doesn't include dental care. I also dropped my Part D, Medicare RX coverage last year, as the monthly premiums cost more than eight times what my medication costs me, plus a $250 deductible, plus a co-pay! No thanks, if I need expensive meds in the future, I'll pay the small penalty for reinstatement!

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  17. Granny, Your reputation precedes you. ;) ;) John

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  18. Oh how funny Granny. Now go get your passport so you will have it next time. I hope you feel better soon.

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  19. About the early 80s, before NAFTA, I had to fly into Mexico City to make an emergency repair. I was told by the plant manager to wrap a $5 bill around each part I would bring with me. Also to respond to the question, Why are you here? With “touristo (sp)”. When going through customs, I was never so nervous in my life. I knew I would spend the rest of my life in a Mexican jail for smuggling. Everything went smooth though and I was $30 poorer but never so glad to be home. John

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  20. John, are you saying I've been known to sass? Me? ;-)

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    Daphne, I'll definitely get the enhanced WA driver's license, which is only $15!

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    John (again), My face was sagging and my speech was affected from the Novocaine, I was still biting down on a bloody wad of gauze, so I do think he believed me. Some people just seem to love flaunting their authority. As I said earlier, protecting our border is of utmost importance, but don't advertise one thing and then enforce another. Let's get on the same page, with one set of rules.

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  21. Wow AG...that is scary...glad you made it back okay. I recently broke a tooth and it couldn't be saved so they had to do an implant....phase one was $1,668 and phase two is going to be almost as much...I have dental insurance to cover part but my insurance considers most of it to be cosmetic and not covered...gotta love our state of health care huh? Take care.

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  22. Ouch, Sunny! I think transplants are around $750 (total) down there. My son-in-law had to have a couple of teeth pulled, and I was shocked at the cost. If I come back down here next winter, I'll definitely have my enhanced driver's license and get the works done on my teeth in Mexico! I have a partial that I hate, and I can get it replaced with a bridge for $1200, which is a fraction of the cost up here.

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  23. What an adventure. I hope your aching jaw is much better by now.

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  24. Thank you, Stefaneener. I still can't open wide for a big bite ;-)

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  25. Wow... what a trip!

    I've got to get a passport here pretty soon! Got family in Canada that I'd like to see. And hey... maybe I'd like to go to Mexico!

    My neighbors go to Mexico every year for a couple months. They get all their dental care done and buy enough of their prescription meds to last the rest of the year!

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  26. Toni, I sure like this enhanced license. It's only good for land travel across the borders (Meico & Canada), but I'm not planning any flights or cruises ;-)

    I grew seedlings of your pink and white hollyhocks this spring, and have them planted by two fences! I'm not expecting them to bloom this year, but will sure be pleasantly surprised if they do. I should have planted them last fall, but I couldn't make up my mind where I wanted them to go.

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