Friday, March 11, 2016

Fine Tuning The San Miguel de Allende Trip

We had to choose between taking the bus from Laredo, Texas to Monterrey, Mexico or to take the car. We chose to take the car so we could more easily bring 'stuff' with us. We want to bring our own wine and single malt scotch. Norma has too many clothes to fit into a single suitcase (it WILL be a one week trip remember) and she wants to bring butter from the US. I need my computer, a change of underwear and my scotch. :)

I called San Xavier and bought two weeks of Mexican car insurance for $95 and will print the policy off when they email it. At the border we will have to go to Migration on the Mexican side of the Columbia Crossing just west of Laredo to buy our Temporary Import Permit (TIP) for the car and our our own visas. Total costs will be around $150 US plus the refundable deposit on the car.

We are leaving here (Mesa, AZ) on Monday the 14th. We plan on spending Monday night in Deming, NM, Tuesday night in Fort Stockton, TX and Wednesday night in Laredo, TX. If this plan works out we will cross the border on Thursday and drive to Monterrey. We gave ourselves the extra day just in case something happens along the way but if all goes well we will probably be there on Thursday afternoon.

We will spend Friday and Saturday at Chris and Juan's and then at precisely 7:30 AM Sunday we leave in Chris and Juan's SUV for SMA where we meet the rental agent at 6:00 PM to get the key.

Stay tuned, this will be fun!

9 comments:

  1. I always tell Shelagh to bring half the clothes and twice the money... I'm looking forward to your border experience, next season we'll drive down too.

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  2. Ahh yes Norma and her clothes. Yeah Norma. Of course you will be leaving at preciously 7:30 AM, that is the way Juan and Chris get things done. Sounds like a perfect vacation from your vacation.

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  3. You will be having a wonderful time away, enjoy !

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  4. sounds like a good plan... enjoy

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  5. I just posted a map of a new route to SMA on rv.net - they fixed an old road - we zipped up it a couple days ago and saved 11 miles and countless potholes and topes on 110 - ask if you can't find my post. I forget everyone's dates but Jerry & Paula are at San Ramon until Mar. 20 I think - and if you know Rick & Ruth they are there for awhile. Lots of new stuff to see and do in SMA - some good and some not so good. Still love that town. We got back to the USA yesterday - heading back to AZ. Have to check you sched to see if we get to see you before you leave Mesa......B

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  6. We will be in Mesa for a few days in early April. It would be great to get together!

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  7. enjoy and have a great time and tell Norma to be careful on those cobble stones cheers les

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  8. Hey Croft, your plans may be set, but as I am back in Alpine, Texas again, I would make a pitch to take the route through Alpine rather than Fort Stockton and spend the night here. It is about the same distance and I am sure we can find a place for a libation or two.

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  9. That would be fun Mike but we really don't have time on the way there but we will do our best to make that detour on our way back. Thanks for the invite, we will be in touch!

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