2013, DECEMBER 1: BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO

My other brother-in-law Sudhir, and his wife Susmita, invited his siblings and their spouses for an overnight visit to their vacation condominium, near Rosarito, in Baja California, Mexico, on Sunday, December 1, 2013.

 

 

 

 

 

Around 9:30 a.m., loaded in two cars, all nine of us, left Orange County, California, by Interstate 5 South, on the about 120-mile long trip.

Just before crossing the International Border, we stopped by to buy liability insurance for car travel in Mexico. Even though we were going to be in Mexico just for a night, Mexican car insurance is a must for North Americans, since an auto accident in Mexico is a criminal and civil offence. Without Mexican insurance, the driver can go to jail, and the car can be impounded.

Anyway, we used the opportunity for a visit the restroom also. And soon we were ready to cross the border, which was a cinch.

Sudhir's 3-bedroom condominium is located on the 16th floor of Las Olas Resort & Spa, at  

 

 Image: Las Olas Resort & Spa (Front)

 

      Image: Las Olas Resort & Spa (Back Side)

Playas de Rosarito, about 45- minute drive from San Diego. It is just a few of miles south of seaside city of Tijuana and...   

Image: Another resort, and in the distance Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico

...a couple of miles north of another sea-side town of Rosarito.  

Image: Rosarito, Baja California, Mexico

 Las Olas Resort & Spa is a 194-unit luxury hotel complete with restaurant, exercise room, swimming pools, spa, Jacuzzis and fire-pits overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Image: Thatched -roofed Exercise Room

 

 Image: Swimming Pool

     

Images: Jacuzzis

We spent our time there chit-chatting, and enjoying the good food provided by Susmita...

Image: At Breakfast Table

...and some played card games.

 

Image: Playing card games

We enjoyed watching the sun set, while...

 

Image: Sunset

some of us went out for a walk on the beach.

 

Image: Beach-walk

 

Before leaving the resort next day, we posed for a group photo in front of the Resort Hotel.

 

Image: Group photo

On the way back, at Tijuana, we separated, as like many other Americans, some of us planned to do some business here.

A part of the international San-Diego (USA)-Tijuana (Mexico) metropolitan area, Tijuana is the largest city on the Baja California Peninsula. Because of closeness to US state of California, and low costs, it has become a dominant manufacturing center of North America. Many Americans come here to vacation, and for bargain shopping for various products and services. About 300,000 people cross the international border here daily.

 

 

 

 

 

           Images: Tijuana City, Baja California, Mexico

While some of us had to get their pictures framed. Sudhir wanted to get some dental work done. Therefore, with Sudhir and Susmia, Kundan and I went to the Washington Dental Clinic.

The bilingual dentists at its three clinics provide comprehensive and good quality dental care, without a prior appointment. They claim that their prices are 50 to 70 percent less than those in the United States and that more than 90 percent of their patients come from the north of the border. Additionally they provide free taxi service to and from the clinics, and free refreshments (cookies, coffee, soft drinks, and water) to the patients and people accompanying them in their air-conditioned waiting areas. Finally they provide free medical passes, which authorize patients to go to a special line dedicated for medical visitors returning to the United States, without having to wait in long lines for others.

Sudhir's dental work required three hours of work. Therefore, it was about 5:30 p.m. as we reached the border. About two hours later we were back at home.