Sunday, May 1, 2011

Our Next Step Leaving Mexico and into US Borders

Next step in my Mexico journal, takes our last footprint in Mexico and travels us back into the US Borders.

This last page of Mexico images bids a fond, but relieved g'bye. This odd out-of-focus bird was one I'd struggled to photo all along the highway south of the US border. Finally, I'd gotten a decent image to work from . . . like an obsession finally satisfied. Another sweet idiosyncrasy we noticed more and more in the state of Sonora, were these roadside chapels. This was the most elaborate we viewed and I had to record it. That night, we made to San Carlos, exactly where we'd stayed on our trek down into Mexico. This was the lovely sunset that warm, balmy evening. The last to be spent in Mexico.

Next morn, we travel thru what seemed a plethora of small villages. All with numerous speed bumps and characteristic vendors at those bumps. Finally, we start seeing announcements of surrendering vehicle permits and then, over a long down hill decline, we form in line at the back of the Border crossing into the United States. Here's the sunny, concrete surroundings at the crossing. Although we had to move into an adjacent parking lot and have a US Border Guard kindly tour our RV, we passed into our sweet borders with a sigh, and a smile. We pull off in Nogales, to have our favorite Starbucks Chai and travel on into Arizona.

Once traversed across Arizona, we had aimed at Marana for our overnight site. We'd stayed in this lovely, well, at least convenient Walmart parking lot and knew all the ropes. I trekked over to the nearby Post Office to mail some letters picked up from RVers in San Carlos - to go to US addresses and then, relaxed til dinner. We did the most "American" think we could do there, eat at the "Chilies" across the street. It actually, was decadently delicious and we loved joking with the amiable register assistant. I was overjoyed, and unbelievably relieved to be back in the States.

The evening melted into nightfall and we savored the pink glowing sunset above the quiet parking lot. Silly as it may sound, it was "Home, Sweet Home". And we nestled into a restful slumber.

2 comments:

Kristin Dudish said...

Such a wonderful journal - and a great way to remember your trip! (I love how your images and text work together!)

xo
Kristin

Shelley Whiting's art said...

I agree with Kristin about how beautiful the images and text were together. I loved also how you painted the cars and streets. They were so realistic.