Coca Refresco

Weekend Visitors 13 6-24, originally uploaded by superape.

Food

We had some thoughts on the food situation.

We propose the following:

Friday Night: Grilled Hot Dogs & Extras

Saturday Night: Eat in Town

Sunday Night: Grilled fajitas

We were thinking that we could figure out the cost per person and each family could contribute that amount towards the food for Friday Night and Sunday. We could just purchase the food before everyone gets to Arizona - we may need some help hauling it down there but between all of us we could do it I think.

In addition we thought perhaps each family could bring their own breakfast stuff and bread but we could also buy the stuff to make sandwiches before hand and divy that cost up as well.

We are open to other suggestions or willing to listen to any concerns this causes -

PLEASE vote yay or nay in a comment or email (if you comment it automatically generates and email into our account).

This trip is getting much closer!

Mr. Fish Taco

Mr. Fish Taco, originally uploaded by detritus.

A note about the standard of living in Mexico.

I'm sure some of you have been to Mexico before, or somewhere like Mexico perhaps. For the gringos who vacation there it is an endless surf, sunny beaches, gorgeous water, sea shells, good food, tide pools, and stunning sunsets. We stay in houses that are amazingly nice, with views that can't be beat. The Mexican people are very hospitable and it is a very relaxing vacation that almost can't be beat.

However, for the people of Mexico, this is a life reserved for the gringos, and not a lifestyle they share. Please be prepared and perhaps prepare your children depending on their ages that there is also extreme poverty. Small children selling chicklet gum is the norm. The first few times I went the poverty that you sometimes encounter is a bit jarring. There is a massive disparity once you cross that invisible line at the border that is simple amazing.

Don't misunderstand, it's beautiful and you get used to the way things are in a way - but you should be a little prepared.

Sunset at Rocky Point

Sunset at Rocky Point, originally uploaded by SeenOnce.

A little update,

Please email me with any additional questions you have so I can be sure to answer them. I think I have covered most things but I could be missing something.

Kyle called last night and told Kirk they are thinking of staying in Flagstaff the night before we head out to Mexico. This is actually quite wise for a few reasons, but mainly because it is MUCH cheaper to stay in Flagstaff overnight than in Phoenix. Winter in Phoenix is high tourist season and all our resorts are full and busy. The rooms here in the winter - and most especially from November through March and the most expensive of all the year and in many ways, more expensive than you might think. Flagstaff remains a bargain because of their cooler weather.

Flagstaff is probably about a 1 and 1/2 hour drive to 2 hours depending on your speed. Since we will probably be leaving mid morning for Mexico on Friday there will be plenty of time to drive down from Flagstaff before we get ready to leave. In addition this makes the dive from Utah seem a little quicker since it cuts time off the end of the drive when everyone is the most tired. The next day we will be stopping in Gila Bend and again at the border so that drive will seem shorter than it might seem.

So Flagstaff might be something everyone would consider if the cost of rooms in Phoenix seems exhoribant and/or they want to shorten the drive the first day.