lizzybennet | (no subject)

We went to Nogales, Mexico today. I'm not quite sure how I feel about the experience. I'm glad we went. I've wanted to visit Mexico since we moved to Arizona almost 4 years ago. I enjoyed walking around Nogales, and the interaction that I had with the citizen of the town was pleasant. They were very friendly and used jokes to try and get your business. However, I do feel a certain sadness brought on by seeing such poverty and neglect. To think that just on the other side of the fence is the United States with all its wealth and luxuries. As Bill said, you go from first world to third world in minutes.

I took lots of pictures,

The border protection check point.

We parked our car on the US side and walked over. Seemed strange to see signs everywhere "To Mexico".

The man standing on the left side of the pic is blind. He has a radio around his neck, and he's singing along with it, holding a cup for donations. Left quite an impression on the kids. I wondered at first if this would all be too much for them to deal with. I decided it was ok. After all, this is real life.

I love these skeletons. The boys did too.

I thought of

beepboop in this shop:) There were several Saint icons on the walls.

A 12 legged tarantula? Or wires twisted around rock?

This brass pig actually saved us from getting lost in amongst the inner bowels of Nogales. We were trying to find our way out and came across it again. Since I had taken a pic of it the first time we passed, I finally was able to figure out where we were and which way the US was.

I liked this sign. I'm one of those Dumb tourists :)

A steep cobblestone street, walled off half way up the hill.

For $5, we could have had our picture taken with the donkey. Uh, no. Too inhumane for me. You can just barely see that he has a pee bucket strapped to his underside.

Zack is sooo into lizards right now. He just loved all the lizards he saw everywhere and really wanted me to snap pictures of all of them.

It was very difficult for the kids not to touch everything they saw. The irony: I knocked over a turtle almost as soon as we walked into the marketplace. Yup, just knocked that thing right to the ground. Luckily, it did not break or even chip. The guy was really nice. I felt guilty and ended up buying a turtle from him, in a different color. I bartered him down $3, from 8 to 5. I still feel like I paid way too much, but whatever. Hopefully it is going for a good cause.

Once again, a kiddy hand grabbing at stuff in the middle of my photo :)

Petey was very bored there. He kept saying "I'm not having any fun at all." I finally put him in the stroller and gave him the camera. It occupied him for a while.

Poor Bill. He seemed to be wearing a target on his back. Everyone stopped him and tried to get him to shop at their store. Children especially wouldn't leave him alone. He bought two little wooden turtles from two different girls. Seriously, everywhere we went the Mexicans ganged up on him. He said that's the last time he wears a Bermuda shirt to Mexico, lol!

A parting shot of Nogales as we walk back to our car. Notice the huge wall, seperating "us" from "them".