December 17, 2024 • 31 mins
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What happens when a spontaneous decision leads to an unexpected adventure across international borders? Our guest, Lauren, my firstborn, shares her thrilling experience of traveling from Cincinnati to Tijuana, Mexico, to meet up with a friend from Haiti. The stories of their journey, the challenges of crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, and the stark differences between entering Mexico and returning to the U.S. will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Lauren paints a vivid picture of camaraderie at the U.S.-Mexico border, sharing touching anecdotes like helping a young girl with paperwork amidst the logistical chaos. This episode uncovers the contrasting privileges of U.S.-born individuals and the daunting realities faced by migrants, offering a compassionate perspective on a complex issue.
Hold tight as Lauren recounts a wild ride with a chatty Uber driver that was supposed to be a quick trip but ended up as a nerve-wracking detour into Mexico. With missed exits, language barriers, and encounters with the Mexican police, the chaos was both tense and comically absurd. As Lauren navigated the situation, armed with Google Translate and mounting panic, the tale ultimately underscores the unpredictable nature of road trips. We wrap up by inviting listeners to share their own travel stories, urging everyone to embrace the joy and unpredictability of hitting the road.
You can learn more about Lauren at https://www.laurenneal.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to another episode of Dan the Road Trip Guy
, the podcast where we dive intothe stories that make life an
adventure.
I'm your host, Dan Neal.
In each episode, I sit downwith my guests to chat about
their first cars, unforgettableroad trips, career journeys,
hobbies, bucket list dreams anda sprinkle of life advice every
now and then.
Whether you're a seasonedtraveler or just love a good
(00:21):
story, join us as we explore theroads less traveled and the
tales that come with them.
Buckle up and let's hit theroad.
All right, I am on a fun roadtrip today.
I am on with my firstborn,Lauren.
Thanks to her, this podcastactually started in May of 2022.
(00:46):
When we were on a road trip toFlorida, she encouraged me to
kick this thing off, and that'sexactly what we did.
We interviewed each other as wetraveled down the road.
Then she spent on one othertime and now we're going to talk
about a trip she made this year, 2024, the spring of 2024, when
she made a trek to Tijuana,Mexico.
(01:09):
That's a place I would pick togo, I know.
Welcome to the show, Lauren.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Thank you for having me back.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
It's always a pleasure to have you back.
We see each other often, butthis makes it even more fun.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
It's kind of crazy to think that it was two and a
half years ago the first episodeI was going to say time passes
very quickly.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Time passes quickly and stories are made and
memories are created.
Well, what we're going to talkabout and I've been wanting to
talk to you about it for severalmonths was a trip you made to
Tijuana Mexico.
To you about it for severalmonths was a trip you made to
Tijuana Mexico.
Yes, tell us first, lauren, whyTijuana?
You're a world traveler, butwhy Tijuana?
Speaker 2 (01:54):
it was very much a last-minute trip.
I think the flight was booked.
Maybe two days prior a friendof mine was crossing the
USS-Mexico border into Tijuanato be reunited with her husband,
who had already been in the USfor several months.
They had been apart for sixmonths, I believe.
(02:16):
She does not speak English, andso it made sense that somebody
would go meet her in, you know,a totally new environment.
She'd be crossing the borderinto san diego.
There's just a lot ofcomplexities about navigating
the us, especially thetransportation system.
It, you know, it's just.
(02:37):
It would have been a veryoverwhelming environment to do
that alone.
I had the flexibility in myschedule of all of our mutual
friends.
I was glad to be able to do it.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Of course, being the traveler you are, you would
never turn down a trip, right.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
No, no, I'm always up for an adventure.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
You just recently reminded me your little suitcase
, your away luggage.
We'll give a shout out to awayluggage has been to six
continents.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
It has, which is wild .
I'd like to calculate thenumber of trips it's been on
with me.
It's been a lot of places.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
It's been a lot of places and right now it's stuck
in Haiti, correct?
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Yes, my checked bag.
I just returned from Haiti afew weeks ago and, unfortunately
, because of the currentpolitical environment, flights
were suspended into Haiti fromthe US.
A Spirit airline flight wasshot at by gangs as it was
descending into Port-au-Prince,and so all US airlines pulled
(03:43):
out of Haiti and we wereevacuated on a cargo flight.
Unfortunately, we only had 50pounds each to bring back with
us, and my luggage weighed 90 intotal, because my camera
equipment weighed 30.
And so I had to leave mychecked bag and some of my
clothes behind, which is reallynot a big deal in the grand
scheme of things, but, yes, mytrusty suitcase was left behind.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Yeah, but we're confident at some point you're
going to be reunited with thatpiece of away luggage.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Yes, it sounds so silly as a material possession,
but there's just so manymemories attached to it.
I hate to see it go entirely.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
You left from Cincinnati out to San Diego
right.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
I did.
I don't recall if there was alayover.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
I believe you went straight there best I remember.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
I believe so too.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
yes, and I believe you checked yourself into a
hotel there in beautiful SanDiego.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
No, I went straight to the border.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
You went straight to the border but you thought at
first you might have to Uberdown, but I believe did you not
find transportation there.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
I did.
Yes, I found the train a greatpublic transportation system, in
my opinion.
It takes you right down to SanYsidro, I believe is what it's
called.
It's right there at the border.
It drops you off and then youquite literally walk across.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
You walk across into another country.
Have you ever done that before?
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Yes, I have never done that.
I have never done that.
Yeah, it was a very uniqueexperience.
Never done that.
Yeah, it was a very uniqueexperience.
It was overwhelming, if I'mbeing honest, because the ease
in which you can cross over theborder from the U?
S to Mexico is it's justoverwhelming.
You can, you know, like hardlyanything is checked.
(05:38):
I don't even remember showingmy passport, which was true the
the the other time I've beenacross the border you don't have
to show your passport becauseit's so close.
But then to think of all thepeople who are waiting on the
other side and how difficult itis to cross back into the US,
that was the most just thejuxtaposition of that experience
(05:58):
and knowing that this I don'tknow this like very small
geographical location holds somuch weight and power, that was
a very interesting thing for me.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
Yeah, and you just had the freedom to walk over,
while the folks on the otherside are struggling to get here.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Exactly, exactly.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Yeah, do you remember how much that ride cost you to
get down to the border?
Speaker 2 (06:29):
Not much.
I would say perhaps $5.
I don't know.
There was a free bus that tookyou to the train station and
then the train was probablyabout $5.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Yeah, okay, now I booked you a place there, near
the border and near your friendyes, in tijuana.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
In tijuana, find the place in tijuana, that's correct
, yeah and I'm like trying tofind the perfect place.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
You know at least has a few stars and some reviews
and it's safe.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Yes, I am like all the memories are coming back now
.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Yeah, and you arrived there.
I remember you told me youarrived and I think someone met
you at the door, maybe.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Yes, well, I had to walk a ways, probably a half a
mile, with my, my luggage in tow, and I remember, on my way to
the hotel, walking and seeingthe line of people who were
waiting.
On the other side there's the,you know, there's the lot, the
lanes of cars that are lined upto get into the US from Mexico,
(07:36):
but then there's also a walkingpath as well and just the line
it was.
It was wild because it took notime to cross into Mexico, but
again, knowing how long it wouldtake to cross back over.
Yes, with luggage in tow, Iwalked to the hotel and, I
believe on the street corner, aways from the hotel, this
(07:58):
security guy was waiting outsidefor me and he knew my name and
I was like well, I guess this isthe place.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
I hope so, anyway, right.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
I guess this is it.
He yeah and yes, and he led meto the you know check-in, got me
checked in, walked me back tomy room, which was behind there
was like an initial gate.
There was my room, which youknow was also locked.
It just was kind of like, okay,I have never been to Tijuana, I
(08:31):
don't really know the level ofinsecurity or the degree of
which it is insecure, but it waslike, okay, this is extra
precautious.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
Yeah, we would look up later how much crime there is
in Tijuana.
We didn't know at that point.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
Yes, yes, maybe a little naive in that sense, but
for the best that we did notknow that prior to.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Yeah, probably best, you know.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Yes, yes.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
My adventurous girl Checked in and then decided to
go out and find your friend.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Yes.
So I checked in, I dropped myluggage off, I believe I just
took my backpack with me, and myfriend had sent me the hotel
the name of the hotel she wasstaying at.
It was essentially across thecity, I think it was like a 20,
25-minute walk.
It was broad daylight.
(09:33):
I have my location shared withyou, know you all, my parents,
my friends, and so I, just Iwent out and made my way over to
my friend.
It was I just yeah, it was likesuch a interesting experience.
(09:53):
Even seeing, anytime you see acity on foot, it's always much
more interesting, right, becauseyou're experiencing like real
life and what's happening day today.
I passed all sorts of differentkinds of people and it was just
, it was really interesting, andI always encourage people,
whenever they travel, to go anyother way than by car, because
(10:18):
you're just going to get a muchbetter sense of a place, and
that's what happened here, andso, anyway, finally, I arrived
at the hotel.
It was more of a hostel.
I text my friends to come downand she does, and we just like
have this embrace for what feltlike minutes.
I'm sure it was not that long,but I, it was beautiful.
(10:38):
I had not seen her in years.
She and her family were verydear friends while I lived in
Haiti and that was just one ofthose moments you don't forget.
And we tried then to convincethe receptionist to let me
inside the actual hotel andneither of us really spoke great
Spanish hotel and neither of usreally spoke great Spanish.
(11:01):
She spoke much better Spanishthan I did.
It was like a little bit ofback and forth, because she
didn't want me to come inbecause I I wasn't staying there
and we were like you know, I'mnot staying, I'm not spending
the night, I'm just going tospend a little bit of time.
Eventually, another person whowas standing, you know, in our
vicinity helped convince thewoman to let me in.
(11:24):
It was essentially this thishotel was home to people who
were waiting for appointments atthe border to cross into the U?
S.
So when I say, you know, when Isay hotel, that might be a
little bit exaggerated, I meanthis is very basic
accommodations.
We got into my friend's room.
(11:46):
It's the kind of place whereyou bring your own sheets and
pillows, Like it's just.
There were, like there werefour queen, full queen size
mattresses on the floor.
They had their own linens, theycook their own food.
It was that sort of environment.
They cook their own food.
It was that sort of environmentand there were two couples and
(12:07):
my friend staying in this room.
One of the couples had a sonwho was about 12 years old, so
there were what is that?
Five, six people in this room.
We, immediately, when I gotinto the room, they had food
waiting for me, as you know.
It just made me smile becauseit's just so customary, right
Like it's an, it's a lovelanguage to to feed people that
(12:30):
you care about, and so it waslike the warmest welcome.
We sat on the bed eating, youknow, our lunch together and and
just catching up and hearingthe experiences that they've all
just gone through, which it'sjust wild to you know.
You're in the us in yourcomfortable home, the that that
(12:52):
same morning and then by theafternoon you're in this totally
different environment.
It's like again I I have noother word than like
overwhelming because therethere's no direct flight from
Haiti to Mexico.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
It's a journey.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Correct.
Yeah, I mean, everybody had adifferent story.
Some people had traveled whatpeople might not be aware of in,
essentially, after theearthquake, so many Haitians
migrated from Haiti to Braziland to Chile in search of
employment, and so a lot ofpeople have made the journey
(13:30):
from South America to the border, and that is a very, very
tumultuous journey, verytumultuous journey.
You pass through the Darien Gap, which is one of the most, if
not the most dangerous migrantcrossings in the entire world,
and so, you know, thousands ofpeople are crossing this, this,
(13:52):
this section of South America,to Central America daily.
So, yeah, it was just, it was,it was very, um, just alarming
it always is to hear thesefirsthand accounts of people who
have gone through more than wecould ever even imagine.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
Yeah, all trying to get to a better life.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Exactly I was just going to say nobody leaves home
unless they're forced to.
I think that's probably thebiggest misconception.
Is that it's not that peopleare choosing this for themselves
, is that they have no otherchoice?
Speaker 1 (14:27):
Exactly, and you know not to deviate from our story,
but I was listening to a guythis morning who left.
We know what's going on inSyria, right?
Now and he left Syria in 1995.
And he is returning this weekfor the first time in a long
time and he was in tears.
(14:49):
He's a professional guy, he'sbeen here for a long time, he's
educated, but it was justinteresting to hear story.
I'm going home.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
I mean, that's 30 years.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
Yeah, 30 years.
I mean he's been back a coupletimes, but not for any extended
period of time wow, and that'sthe thing.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
It's like everybody just wants to go home, yeah, but
until then they're going to.
Of course, you're going tosearch out a better life for
yourself and your family, sure?
And that's what is happening inthis situation so we'll fast
forward.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
You spend time with them.
I believe you even went out tothe ocean, best I remember.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
We did, yes.
So when you go essentially whatI've gathered there is a large
migrant community in Tijuana ofpeople who have not been able to
make it across the border, butfor most people it's just a stop
along the way.
So it's very quick, it'stemporary, and I asked this
(15:46):
group that I was with if theyhad yet seen the ocean from
Tijuana, and none of them had.
I said let's go, we're going tothe ocean.
So we hopped into Ubers and itwasn't terribly far, it was
probably 15 minutes.
We just hung out on the beachand I've never been again, I've
never been to Tijuana, but tosee the wall extend into the
(16:09):
ocean was was really, reallyeye-opening.
It was like this strangejuxtaposition of people enjoying
life on the what would you callit?
A boardwalk.
You know there's all sorts ofvendors selling food and drinks
and we bought like a littleskewer I guess it's I don't know
(16:32):
if it was squid or octopus, butlike a skewer with grilled
octopus on it because theywanted to try.
You know, something new.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
Sure.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
It was just, yeah, it was a very interesting
experience and my friend and Iwe sat for a long time and it
was like the first time she wasable to even let her guard down.
I mean, it was a pretty intenseemotional conversation.
I I, I too believe there's somuch um, there's like so much
(17:04):
power in being by the water, andso just that like environment
was, yeah, I guess, reallypowerful you know like and
getting to see this 12 year oldlike he had.
He had so much fun runningthrough the water and I enjoyed
that very much.
We spent probably two hours atthe beach and then, before you
know, we made our way back tothe hotel.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Spent the night there .
You slept well, you got up thenext day and, of course, her
appointment.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
I did not sleep well.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
You did not sleep well.
Okay, it was very loud.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
I actually did not sleep well.
You did not sleep well, okay.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
It was very loud.
I actually did not sleep well.
Okay, sorry, she did not sleepwell.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
That is something I remember.
It was very loud.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
Yeah, well, it's Tijuana, yeah exactly.
You didn't sleep well and youget up the next day.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
Her appointment's the next day and you make your way
back, you walk back across.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
You walk into America .
Well, pause oh pause.
Yeah, okay.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
Okay.
So I was told to meet myfriends at 9 am and we didn't
know exactly when theappointment would be, so I met
them down there.
No one's really lined up atthis point.
People are just kind of hangingout, uh, slowly gathering.
So a couple of us went.
We found something to eat okaycame back and, yeah, we're just
(18:23):
hanging out for a while and thenan officer comes out.
Everybody lines up.
There's two lines essentiallythere is a line of people from,
I'm pretty sure, if I recallcorrectly, there's a line of
people from I'm pretty sure, ifI recall correctly, there's a
line of people specifically fromHaiti, and then there's a line
of people from everywhere else.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
And there are probably 200 people lined up
this morning and everyone's in agroup of nine, and I don't
remember exactly why nine, butbasically you had to fill out
these forms as a group prior toso the officer is going through
the line.
He is, you know, checking offone by one everyone's paperwork.
(19:07):
Something interesting thathappened was the group that was
standing in front of us, that ayoung girl she was like,
basically designated as incharge of doing all their their
online paperwork, and for somereason, she, like she, did
something wrong, and it was justthis moment of I was able to,
(19:30):
you know, translate for her andhelp her communicate to the
officer that they were therelegally and that they had been
approved for this appointmentokay and that was very
interesting.
Yeah, just like there's so many,so many layers to this that
obviously we don't think aboutas people who are us born you
(19:51):
know, essentially I parted wayswith my friends, but
specifically my one friend.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
Right, and I made new friends.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
You made new friends, I made new friends, but I I
made sure that we had shared oneanother's locations with each
other, because you know, whenyou cross into another country,
you don't, you're, you're notnecessarily going to have
service, and so we shared oneanother's locations.
I left and made my way to, tothe line that I was supposed to
(20:24):
to cross through, which, by theway, I barely made it because it
was a Sunday and it closes at1245.
I believe it was.
And I left.
I stayed until about 1130.
Yeah, I barely made it through.
I think I made it through withlike five minutes to spare.
So basically, if you can't, ifyou don't make it through this
walking line, then you have togo through the car lanes and the
(20:50):
line of traffic was so long.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Yeah, we'll get to those long lines of traffic a
little bit later.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
Yeah, so for you folks visiting Tijuana, you want
to make sure you get backacross the border into the US
before the walkway closes.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
I make it across, I'm hanging out like right across
the border there's a fewdifferent businesses.
A coffee shop is one of them.
I go, I get a coffee, I'msitting there for a bit and
these two border controlofficers come in and I was like,
hey, I have a friend who's gotan appointment and I'm just
curious what time I cananticipate her coming through,
(21:29):
cause I'm like, oh, it'll belike an hour.
And they laugh.
They literally laughed in myface.
They're they're like, oh, itwill be hours.
And they were like it might noteven be today, it could be
tomorrow and she might not evencome through this exit, she
might come through the.
You know, there was like a,basically like an east and west
exit she might come through theother exit.
(21:49):
So now I'm like, oh gosh, okay,well, I will not be sitting here
all day.
So I thought I'll take mythings to the hotel where we
were going to be staying for thenight in San Diego and I will
come back.
I get on that same train, Imake it to we were staying in
old town in San Diego and dropmy things off.
(22:10):
I had lunch and then I was kindof timing it out because they
said, like be back by about 6,30.
I was like okay, and I think bythe time I got through the line,
it was, I can't remember, itwas probably like one 30.
So, you know, I had, I hadsignificant time to to spend.
And so I thought, okay, I'llleave this hotel around six,
(22:32):
take an Uber, because again, itwas Sunday and the train stopped
running at like 4 PM orsomething.
So, yeah, I was like, oh, I'lljust take an Uber down and I'll
leave it around six.
I'll certainly be there inplenty of time.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
Yeah, okay, and you kind of knew where you were
going.
You'd been there once.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
Yes, exactly, exactly .
And of course, this is wherethings go awry.
Speaker 1 (22:57):
Part where mom and dad couldn't sleep.
Some other friends up inMinnesota couldn't sleep and
we're all wondering about Lauren.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
Uber driver picks me up.
I should have known when hedidn't.
It was the kind of situationwhere I had to walk two blocks
to get to the car because forsome reason he couldn't find me.
Maybe that should have been myinitial red flag.
Speaker 1 (23:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
I get in the car.
It's a nice car he's going onabout.
I don't even know what I'm thekind of.
I'm the kind of passenger whodoes not like to talk or
converse with the driver.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
It's not because I don't want to engage, but I,
just, like you know, I like toput my headphones in.
It's not because I don't wantto engage, but I just, like you
know, I like to put myheadphones in.
It's like on the plane.
I don't really I don't reallylike to converse in these
environments, but this man wasvery chatty and wanted to tell
me all about himself.
So he's chatting away.
He lives not too far from theborder, telling me about his
(23:54):
kids I don't even know what elseand I don't know.
We missed the exit.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
Yeah, I'm assuming there's a big sign right that
says this is it Get off here oryou're in Mexico.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
Surely there is a big sign.
Should I have been tracking viamy map?
Probably so.
But again, he was so chatty andI was trying to engage and,
yeah, we missed the exit and westart driving into Mexico and
it's like you know, the lanesare growing.
It's just like there's more andmore lanes.
(24:27):
And I said we were driving intoMexico and he said, oh, don't
worry, there will be a spotwhere we can turn around.
He said, oh, don't worry therewill be a spot where we can turn
around, Right, I don't thinkthat's how it works.
So we keep driving and we'relike we are going in and I'm
like, oh, we, we, no, we're notcoming out, we're not turning
(24:51):
around.
So I am I am, of course,freaking out because I've
already seen the lane of trafficthat's coming back into the U?
S and my friend could come outat any moment and I I am like
panicking that she is going tocome out and I will not be there
and I will not be able to getin.
So we just keep driving intoMexico.
(25:14):
There are so many cars and hismaps are just like taking us in
circles.
Speaker 1 (25:24):
By the way, we're watching from here because we've
got Find you on our phone and Iam watching you drive in
circles.
And you're messaging us but yes, you're driving in circles.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
In circles and eventually, I believe we I'm
trying to think like if we keptgoing in circles or if we
eventually just like made ourway to the back of the line, we
we were stopped by a police manat some point in time at some
point in time during thisdebacle.
And yeah, my friends you know,my parents are texting me, my
(26:03):
friends are texting me, likewhat is going on?
And I am just, I'm honestlyless concerned about myself and
I'm more concerned about myfriend, yeah yes, um, and this
police stops us, asks for thedriver's license Perhaps his, I
don't think.
He asked for his passport, Ithink his license.
(26:25):
This driver shame on him doesnot speak Spanish.
He has lived on the border forhow many years, I can't remember
what he told me, but did notspeak any Spanish.
We're sitting there for I don'teven know, maybe 10 minutes,
like he.
You know, police officer goesaway, he comes back, finally he
(26:45):
lets us go, but he's like youhave to go to the back of the
line.
And I was like are you kiddingme?
So we turn around and we makeour way to the back me.
So we turn around and we makeour way to the back and, and you
know the, the maps are tellingus it's going to be like two and
a half hours of traffic.
And that's why I'm alsopanicking, because I don't think
(27:07):
we have two and a half hours tospare.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
Right.
Speaker 2 (27:10):
But we get in the back of the line at the exact
same location, a second policeofficer stops us.
And this is when I'm like, I ampanicking.
Again.
The police officer takes thedriver's license.
I whip out Google translatebecause I'm like this man.
The driver is useless to me atthis point.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:32):
I am going to try and converse with this police
officer.
I uh, don't remember, but I'mpretty sure I got a little
emotional.
Not I mean genuinely, you know,because I just like it was so
frustrating being being in thisenvironment, not being able to
communicate.
Obviously there'smiscommunication and I'm like
this is the driver's fault.
(27:53):
I should not be back in Mexico.
We're passing, like we passedby all the sites that I had
already seen.
I was like, oh, I just saw thisthis morning and here I am back
in Mexico.
Yeah, it was again a back andforth, maybe another 1015
minutes, I don't remember.
But the police finally let usgo, we get back in the line.
(28:15):
And this driver, I mean, he'slike I'm supposed to have a date
tonight and yeah, well like Idon't really care.
I have much, much more importantthings to attend to.
And he whips out.
He's got like a jar of peanutbutter in the car.
I don't remember what he atewith it Maybe some apple slices
and he turns on.
(28:36):
He's got a screen in the frontof his car.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
He turns on Netflix, like he has done this before.
I was so upset, so upset.
And then, you know, in the, inthe midst of all this, my friend
texts me she has made it acrossthe border and I'm like oh my
gosh, please, please, stay whereyou are, do not leave.
It's getting dark at this point.
(29:01):
And so we're making our waythrough the line.
Driver thinks it's a good ideato get into the global entry
lane.
He doesn't even have hispassport on him.
I thankfully had my backpackand I always carry my passport
and global entry card when I'mtraveling internationally.
But we get in this lane and myfriend is still texting me.
(29:26):
She says there's a bus here.
It's taking everyone else.
Should I get on the bus?
I'm like no, please don't geton the bus, I am coming, I will
meet you.
You know where you are, juststay there.
We, like are inching our wayforward.
Thankfully, the global entryline was much quicker than the
the standard line.
But then we were stopped by aninitial again a border patrol,
(29:47):
uh officer, and he asked to seethe driver's global entry.
Obviously he didn't have it.
I showed mine and that's how wegot through.
And I'm like please, you know,let us.
But again, this border patrolofficer was quite friendly, he
waved us through and then we gotto the second patrol officer
who would like let us into theUS.
(30:08):
And again the alarming thingabout this was that officer told
the driver he said well, nexttime it's going to be a $3,000
fine.
How privileged you don't evenhave your passport.
How easily you can get into theus.
You know what I mean.
That's what really.
(30:29):
Really, it's just, again, it'slike this, the juxtaposition of
it all, like how is thatpossible?
It just it seems very unfair.
So anyway, we passed through.
I was so excited to leave thisman I think we've been together
for three hours at this pointand you know what?
(30:50):
He still charged me.
Speaker 1 (30:52):
Still charged you.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
I did not leave a tip , you better believe.
But he charged me and I don'tremember.
I disputed it with Uber, but Idon't remember if I got refunded
, but anyway, he drops me off.
I see my friend, we we reunite.
I call a different uber thistime.
I tell this uber driver once weget into the car that what just
has happened and he wasflabbergasted.
(31:16):
He was like, is that man?
I don't remember he probablyhad some choice words, but he's
like you, you cannot miss thesign.
How do you drive back intomexico?
We make it to the hotel.
My friend, exhausted, justcrashes.
I go get us some food.
I bring it back and my favoritepart about this is the next day
(31:39):
she enjoyed I.
I got us tacos and okay, sheenjoyed the food so much that we
ended up going back to the sameplace for lunch, and it was
like she had been in Mexico forseveral months.
But it was a much differentexperience for her.
Of course.
She was kind of at the mercy ofwherever she was staying and
(32:02):
life was just really challenging.
When we had lunch the next day,she was like this is the first
time I'm, you know, and we're inthe US, we're in San Diego, but
she said this is the first timeI'm actually getting to
experience like Mexican culturefor the first time and enjoy it.
And that was really reallyimpactful to me because it's
like, as somebody who loves totravel, how often I mean, you
(32:27):
know, like that, that is myexperience in traveling.
I do it for the enjoyment of it, but for so many people it's
out of necessity and survivaland they don't have necessarily
the luxury of getting toexperience another culture.
And so it was just, yeah, itwas like a, it was a beautiful
moment, and eventually we madeour way to the airport and flew
(32:50):
to be reunited with her husbandand she hadn't seen in six
months exactly, and that, in andof itself, was like such a
meaningful encounter.
I mean, I photographed it andI'll remember that.
You know one of those memoriesthat you'll, you'll treasure
forever, forever, yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:10):
And she really hadn't seen anybody she knew for
months.
Speaker 2 (33:15):
Oh, absolutely, absolutely.
Yeah, it, overall it was.
I mean, when I look back onthis year, yeah, overall it was.
I mean, when I look back onthis year, it is favorite
Doesn't really feel like theright choice in words because a
very unique experience, but itis the most memorable experience
I have from this past year.
It's not lost on me howdifficult how many people are
(33:39):
trying to get into the US andhow easy it is to cross, you
know, back into mexico well,lauren, I've been wanting to
record this for a while, sothank you for spending a little
time with me.
Speaker 1 (33:50):
I wish we were in the car, headed out on a road trip
someplace, but we're still goingto do that yes, we sure will at
some point thank you very muchthank you for having me.
Speaker 2 (34:01):
It's always a pleasure.
Thank you for having me.
It's always a pleasure.
Speaker 1 (34:03):
Thank you for tuning in to Dan the Road Trip Guy.
I hope you enjoyed our journeytoday and the stories that were
shared.
If you have any thoughts orquestions or stories of your own
, I'd love to hear from you.
Feel free to reach out to meanytime.
Don't forget to share thispodcast with your friends and
family and help us to spread thejoy of road trips and great
conversations.
Until next time, keep driving,keep exploring and keep having
(34:27):
those amazing conversations.
Safe travels and remember youcan find me on the internet at
dantheroadtripguycom.
Welcome to another episode of Dan the Road Trip Guy
, the podcast where we dive intothe stories that make life an
adventure.
I'm your host, Dan Neal.
In each episode, I sit downwith my guests to chat about
their first cars, unforgettableroad trips, career journeys,
hobbies, bucket list dreams anda sprinkle of life advice every
now and then.
Whether you're a seasonedtraveler or just love a good
(00:21):
story, join us as we explore theroads less traveled and the
tales that come with them.
Buckle up and let's hit theroad.
All right, I am on a fun roadtrip today.
I am on with my firstborn,Lauren.
Thanks to her, this podcastactually started in May of 2022.
(00:46):
When we were on a road trip toFlorida, she encouraged me to
kick this thing off, and that'sexactly what we did.
We interviewed each other as wetraveled down the road.
Then she spent on one othertime and now we're going to talk
about a trip she made this year, 2024, the spring of 2024, when
she made a trek to Tijuana,Mexico.
(01:09):
That's a place I would pick togo, I know.
Welcome to the show, Lauren.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Thank you for having me back.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
It's always a pleasure to have you back.
We see each other often, butthis makes it even more fun.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
It's kind of crazy to think that it was two and a
half years ago the first episodeI was going to say time passes
very quickly.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Time passes quickly and stories are made and
memories are created.
Well, what we're going to talkabout and I've been wanting to
talk to you about it for severalmonths was a trip you made to
Tijuana Mexico.
To you about it for severalmonths was a trip you made to
Tijuana Mexico.
Yes, tell us first, lauren, whyTijuana?
You're a world traveler, butwhy Tijuana?
Speaker 2 (01:54):
it was very much a last-minute trip.
I think the flight was booked.
Maybe two days prior a friendof mine was crossing the
USS-Mexico border into Tijuanato be reunited with her husband,
who had already been in the USfor several months.
They had been apart for sixmonths, I believe.
(02:16):
She does not speak English, andso it made sense that somebody
would go meet her in, you know,a totally new environment.
She'd be crossing the borderinto san diego.
There's just a lot ofcomplexities about navigating
the us, especially thetransportation system.
It, you know, it's just.
(02:37):
It would have been a veryoverwhelming environment to do
that alone.
I had the flexibility in myschedule of all of our mutual
friends.
I was glad to be able to do it.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Of course, being the traveler you are, you would
never turn down a trip, right.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
No, no, I'm always up for an adventure.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
You just recently reminded me your little suitcase
, your away luggage.
We'll give a shout out to awayluggage has been to six
continents.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
It has, which is wild .
I'd like to calculate thenumber of trips it's been on
with me.
It's been a lot of places.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
It's been a lot of places and right now it's stuck
in Haiti, correct?
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Yes, my checked bag.
I just returned from Haiti afew weeks ago and, unfortunately
, because of the currentpolitical environment, flights
were suspended into Haiti fromthe US.
A Spirit airline flight wasshot at by gangs as it was
descending into Port-au-Prince,and so all US airlines pulled
(03:43):
out of Haiti and we wereevacuated on a cargo flight.
Unfortunately, we only had 50pounds each to bring back with
us, and my luggage weighed 90 intotal, because my camera
equipment weighed 30.
And so I had to leave mychecked bag and some of my
clothes behind, which is reallynot a big deal in the grand
scheme of things, but, yes, mytrusty suitcase was left behind.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Yeah, but we're confident at some point you're
going to be reunited with thatpiece of away luggage.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Yes, it sounds so silly as a material possession,
but there's just so manymemories attached to it.
I hate to see it go entirely.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
You left from Cincinnati out to San Diego
right.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
I did.
I don't recall if there was alayover.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
I believe you went straight there best I remember.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
I believe so too.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
yes, and I believe you checked yourself into a
hotel there in beautiful SanDiego.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
No, I went straight to the border.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
You went straight to the border but you thought at
first you might have to Uberdown, but I believe did you not
find transportation there.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
I did.
Yes, I found the train a greatpublic transportation system, in
my opinion.
It takes you right down to SanYsidro, I believe is what it's
called.
It's right there at the border.
It drops you off and then youquite literally walk across.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
You walk across into another country.
Have you ever done that before?
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Yes, I have never done that.
I have never done that.
Yeah, it was a very uniqueexperience.
Never done that.
Yeah, it was a very uniqueexperience.
It was overwhelming, if I'mbeing honest, because the ease
in which you can cross over theborder from the U?
S to Mexico is it's justoverwhelming.
You can, you know, like hardlyanything is checked.
(05:38):
I don't even remember showingmy passport, which was true the
the the other time I've beenacross the border you don't have
to show your passport becauseit's so close.
But then to think of all thepeople who are waiting on the
other side and how difficult itis to cross back into the US,
that was the most just thejuxtaposition of that experience
(05:58):
and knowing that this I don'tknow this like very small
geographical location holds somuch weight and power, that was
a very interesting thing for me.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
Yeah, and you just had the freedom to walk over,
while the folks on the otherside are struggling to get here.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Exactly, exactly.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Yeah, do you remember how much that ride cost you to
get down to the border?
Speaker 2 (06:29):
Not much.
I would say perhaps $5.
I don't know.
There was a free bus that tookyou to the train station and
then the train was probablyabout $5.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Yeah, okay, now I booked you a place there, near
the border and near your friendyes, in tijuana.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
In tijuana, find the place in tijuana, that's correct
, yeah and I'm like trying tofind the perfect place.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
You know at least has a few stars and some reviews
and it's safe.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Yes, I am like all the memories are coming back now
.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Yeah, and you arrived there.
I remember you told me youarrived and I think someone met
you at the door, maybe.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Yes, well, I had to walk a ways, probably a half a
mile, with my, my luggage in tow, and I remember, on my way to
the hotel, walking and seeingthe line of people who were
waiting.
On the other side there's the,you know, there's the lot, the
lanes of cars that are lined upto get into the US from Mexico,
(07:36):
but then there's also a walkingpath as well and just the line
it was.
It was wild because it took notime to cross into Mexico, but
again, knowing how long it wouldtake to cross back over.
Yes, with luggage in tow, Iwalked to the hotel and, I
believe on the street corner, aways from the hotel, this
(07:58):
security guy was waiting outsidefor me and he knew my name and
I was like well, I guess this isthe place.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
I hope so, anyway, right.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
I guess this is it.
He yeah and yes, and he led meto the you know check-in, got me
checked in, walked me back tomy room, which was behind there
was like an initial gate.
There was my room, which youknow was also locked.
It just was kind of like, okay,I have never been to Tijuana, I
(08:31):
don't really know the level ofinsecurity or the degree of
which it is insecure, but it waslike, okay, this is extra
precautious.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
Yeah, we would look up later how much crime there is
in Tijuana.
We didn't know at that point.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
Yes, yes, maybe a little naive in that sense, but
for the best that we did notknow that prior to.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Yeah, probably best, you know.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Yes, yes.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
My adventurous girl Checked in and then decided to
go out and find your friend.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Yes.
So I checked in, I dropped myluggage off, I believe I just
took my backpack with me, and myfriend had sent me the hotel
the name of the hotel she wasstaying at.
It was essentially across thecity, I think it was like a 20,
25-minute walk.
It was broad daylight.
(09:33):
I have my location shared withyou, know you all, my parents,
my friends, and so I, just Iwent out and made my way over to
my friend.
It was I just yeah, it was likesuch a interesting experience.
(09:53):
Even seeing, anytime you see acity on foot, it's always much
more interesting, right, becauseyou're experiencing like real
life and what's happening day today.
I passed all sorts of differentkinds of people and it was just
, it was really interesting, andI always encourage people,
whenever they travel, to go anyother way than by car, because
(10:18):
you're just going to get a muchbetter sense of a place, and
that's what happened here, andso, anyway, finally, I arrived
at the hotel.
It was more of a hostel.
I text my friends to come downand she does, and we just like
have this embrace for what feltlike minutes.
I'm sure it was not that long,but I, it was beautiful.
(10:38):
I had not seen her in years.
She and her family were verydear friends while I lived in
Haiti and that was just one ofthose moments you don't forget.
And we tried then to convincethe receptionist to let me
inside the actual hotel andneither of us really spoke great
Spanish hotel and neither of usreally spoke great Spanish.
(11:01):
She spoke much better Spanishthan I did.
It was like a little bit ofback and forth, because she
didn't want me to come inbecause I I wasn't staying there
and we were like you know, I'mnot staying, I'm not spending
the night, I'm just going tospend a little bit of time.
Eventually, another person whowas standing, you know, in our
vicinity helped convince thewoman to let me in.
(11:24):
It was essentially this thishotel was home to people who
were waiting for appointments atthe border to cross into the U?
S.
So when I say, you know, when Isay hotel, that might be a
little bit exaggerated, I meanthis is very basic
accommodations.
We got into my friend's room.
(11:46):
It's the kind of place whereyou bring your own sheets and
pillows, Like it's just.
There were, like there werefour queen, full queen size
mattresses on the floor.
They had their own linens, theycook their own food.
It was that sort of environment.
They cook their own food.
It was that sort of environmentand there were two couples and
(12:07):
my friend staying in this room.
One of the couples had a sonwho was about 12 years old, so
there were what is that?
Five, six people in this room.
We, immediately, when I gotinto the room, they had food
waiting for me, as you know.
It just made me smile becauseit's just so customary, right
Like it's an, it's a lovelanguage to to feed people that
(12:30):
you care about, and so it waslike the warmest welcome.
We sat on the bed eating, youknow, our lunch together and and
just catching up and hearingthe experiences that they've all
just gone through, which it'sjust wild to you know.
You're in the us in yourcomfortable home, the that that
(12:52):
same morning and then by theafternoon you're in this totally
different environment.
It's like again I I have noother word than like
overwhelming because therethere's no direct flight from
Haiti to Mexico.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
It's a journey.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Correct.
Yeah, I mean, everybody had adifferent story.
Some people had traveled whatpeople might not be aware of in,
essentially, after theearthquake, so many Haitians
migrated from Haiti to Braziland to Chile in search of
employment, and so a lot ofpeople have made the journey
(13:30):
from South America to the border, and that is a very, very
tumultuous journey, verytumultuous journey.
You pass through the Darien Gap, which is one of the most, if
not the most dangerous migrantcrossings in the entire world,
and so, you know, thousands ofpeople are crossing this, this,
(13:52):
this section of South America,to Central America daily.
So, yeah, it was just, it was,it was very, um, just alarming
it always is to hear thesefirsthand accounts of people who
have gone through more than wecould ever even imagine.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
Yeah, all trying to get to a better life.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Exactly I was just going to say nobody leaves home
unless they're forced to.
I think that's probably thebiggest misconception.
Is that it's not that peopleare choosing this for themselves
, is that they have no otherchoice?
Speaker 1 (14:27):
Exactly, and you know not to deviate from our story,
but I was listening to a guythis morning who left.
We know what's going on inSyria, right?
Now and he left Syria in 1995.
And he is returning this weekfor the first time in a long
time and he was in tears.
(14:49):
He's a professional guy, he'sbeen here for a long time, he's
educated, but it was justinteresting to hear story.
I'm going home.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
I mean, that's 30 years.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
Yeah, 30 years.
I mean he's been back a coupletimes, but not for any extended
period of time wow, and that'sthe thing.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
It's like everybody just wants to go home, yeah, but
until then they're going to.
Of course, you're going tosearch out a better life for
yourself and your family, sure?
And that's what is happening inthis situation so we'll fast
forward.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
You spend time with them.
I believe you even went out tothe ocean, best I remember.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
We did, yes.
So when you go essentially whatI've gathered there is a large
migrant community in Tijuana ofpeople who have not been able to
make it across the border, butfor most people it's just a stop
along the way.
So it's very quick, it'stemporary, and I asked this
(15:46):
group that I was with if theyhad yet seen the ocean from
Tijuana, and none of them had.
I said let's go, we're going tothe ocean.
So we hopped into Ubers and itwasn't terribly far, it was
probably 15 minutes.
We just hung out on the beachand I've never been again, I've
never been to Tijuana, but tosee the wall extend into the
(16:09):
ocean was was really, reallyeye-opening.
It was like this strangejuxtaposition of people enjoying
life on the what would you callit?
A boardwalk.
You know there's all sorts ofvendors selling food and drinks
and we bought like a littleskewer I guess it's I don't know
(16:32):
if it was squid or octopus, butlike a skewer with grilled
octopus on it because theywanted to try.
You know, something new.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
Sure.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
It was just, yeah, it was a very interesting
experience and my friend and Iwe sat for a long time and it
was like the first time she wasable to even let her guard down.
I mean, it was a pretty intenseemotional conversation.
I I, I too believe there's somuch um, there's like so much
(17:04):
power in being by the water, andso just that like environment
was, yeah, I guess, reallypowerful you know like and
getting to see this 12 year oldlike he had.
He had so much fun runningthrough the water and I enjoyed
that very much.
We spent probably two hours atthe beach and then, before you
know, we made our way back tothe hotel.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Spent the night there .
You slept well, you got up thenext day and, of course, her
appointment.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
I did not sleep well.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
You did not sleep well.
Okay, it was very loud.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
I actually did not sleep well.
You did not sleep well, okay.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
It was very loud.
I actually did not sleep well.
Okay, sorry, she did not sleepwell.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
That is something I remember.
It was very loud.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
Yeah, well, it's Tijuana, yeah exactly.
You didn't sleep well and youget up the next day.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
Her appointment's the next day and you make your way
back, you walk back across.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
You walk into America .
Well, pause oh pause.
Yeah, okay.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
Okay.
So I was told to meet myfriends at 9 am and we didn't
know exactly when theappointment would be, so I met
them down there.
No one's really lined up atthis point.
People are just kind of hangingout, uh, slowly gathering.
So a couple of us went.
We found something to eat okaycame back and, yeah, we're just
(18:23):
hanging out for a while and thenan officer comes out.
Everybody lines up.
There's two lines essentiallythere is a line of people from,
I'm pretty sure, if I recallcorrectly, there's a line of
people from I'm pretty sure, ifI recall correctly, there's a
line of people specifically fromHaiti, and then there's a line
of people from everywhere else.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
And there are probably 200 people lined up
this morning and everyone's in agroup of nine, and I don't
remember exactly why nine, butbasically you had to fill out
these forms as a group prior toso the officer is going through
the line.
He is, you know, checking offone by one everyone's paperwork.
(19:07):
Something interesting thathappened was the group that was
standing in front of us, that ayoung girl she was like,
basically designated as incharge of doing all their their
online paperwork, and for somereason, she, like she, did
something wrong, and it was justthis moment of I was able to,
(19:30):
you know, translate for her andhelp her communicate to the
officer that they were therelegally and that they had been
approved for this appointmentokay and that was very
interesting.
Yeah, just like there's so many,so many layers to this that
obviously we don't think aboutas people who are us born you
(19:51):
know, essentially I parted wayswith my friends, but
specifically my one friend.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
Right, and I made new friends.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
You made new friends, I made new friends, but I I
made sure that we had shared oneanother's locations with each
other, because you know, whenyou cross into another country,
you don't, you're, you're notnecessarily going to have
service, and so we shared oneanother's locations.
I left and made my way to, tothe line that I was supposed to
(20:24):
to cross through, which, by theway, I barely made it because it
was a Sunday and it closes at1245.
I believe it was.
And I left.
I stayed until about 1130.
Yeah, I barely made it through.
I think I made it through withlike five minutes to spare.
So basically, if you can't, ifyou don't make it through this
walking line, then you have togo through the car lanes and the
(20:50):
line of traffic was so long.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Yeah, we'll get to those long lines of traffic a
little bit later.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
Yeah, so for you folks visiting Tijuana, you want
to make sure you get backacross the border into the US
before the walkway closes.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
I make it across, I'm hanging out like right across
the border there's a fewdifferent businesses.
A coffee shop is one of them.
I go, I get a coffee, I'msitting there for a bit and
these two border controlofficers come in and I was like,
hey, I have a friend who's gotan appointment and I'm just
curious what time I cananticipate her coming through,
(21:29):
cause I'm like, oh, it'll belike an hour.
And they laugh.
They literally laughed in myface.
They're they're like, oh, itwill be hours.
And they were like it might noteven be today, it could be
tomorrow and she might not evencome through this exit, she
might come through the.
You know, there was like a,basically like an east and west
exit she might come through theother exit.
(21:49):
So now I'm like, oh gosh, okay,well, I will not be sitting here
all day.
So I thought I'll take mythings to the hotel where we
were going to be staying for thenight in San Diego and I will
come back.
I get on that same train, Imake it to we were staying in
old town in San Diego and dropmy things off.
(22:10):
I had lunch and then I was kindof timing it out because they
said, like be back by about 6,30.
I was like okay, and I think bythe time I got through the line,
it was, I can't remember, itwas probably like one 30.
So, you know, I had, I hadsignificant time to to spend.
And so I thought, okay, I'llleave this hotel around six,
(22:32):
take an Uber, because again, itwas Sunday and the train stopped
running at like 4 PM orsomething.
So, yeah, I was like, oh, I'lljust take an Uber down and I'll
leave it around six.
I'll certainly be there inplenty of time.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
Yeah, okay, and you kind of knew where you were
going.
You'd been there once.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
Yes, exactly, exactly .
And of course, this is wherethings go awry.
Speaker 1 (22:57):
Part where mom and dad couldn't sleep.
Some other friends up inMinnesota couldn't sleep and
we're all wondering about Lauren.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
Uber driver picks me up.
I should have known when hedidn't.
It was the kind of situationwhere I had to walk two blocks
to get to the car because forsome reason he couldn't find me.
Maybe that should have been myinitial red flag.
Speaker 1 (23:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
I get in the car.
It's a nice car he's going onabout.
I don't even know what I'm thekind of.
I'm the kind of passenger whodoes not like to talk or
converse with the driver.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
It's not because I don't want to engage, but I,
just, like you know, I like toput my headphones in.
It's not because I don't wantto engage, but I just, like you
know, I like to put myheadphones in.
It's like on the plane.
I don't really I don't reallylike to converse in these
environments, but this man wasvery chatty and wanted to tell
me all about himself.
So he's chatting away.
He lives not too far from theborder, telling me about his
(23:54):
kids I don't even know what elseand I don't know.
We missed the exit.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
Yeah, I'm assuming there's a big sign right that
says this is it Get off here oryou're in Mexico.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
Surely there is a big sign.
Should I have been tracking viamy map?
Probably so.
But again, he was so chatty andI was trying to engage and,
yeah, we missed the exit and westart driving into Mexico and
it's like you know, the lanesare growing.
It's just like there's more andmore lanes.
(24:27):
And I said we were driving intoMexico and he said, oh, don't
worry, there will be a spotwhere we can turn around.
He said, oh, don't worry therewill be a spot where we can turn
around, Right, I don't thinkthat's how it works.
So we keep driving and we'relike we are going in and I'm
like, oh, we, we, no, we're notcoming out, we're not turning
(24:51):
around.
So I am I am, of course,freaking out because I've
already seen the lane of trafficthat's coming back into the U?
S and my friend could come outat any moment and I I am like
panicking that she is going tocome out and I will not be there
and I will not be able to getin.
So we just keep driving intoMexico.
(25:14):
There are so many cars and hismaps are just like taking us in
circles.
Speaker 1 (25:24):
By the way, we're watching from here because we've
got Find you on our phone and Iam watching you drive in
circles.
And you're messaging us but yes, you're driving in circles.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
In circles and eventually, I believe we I'm
trying to think like if we keptgoing in circles or if we
eventually just like made ourway to the back of the line, we
we were stopped by a police manat some point in time at some
point in time during thisdebacle.
And yeah, my friends you know,my parents are texting me, my
(26:03):
friends are texting me, likewhat is going on?
And I am just, I'm honestlyless concerned about myself and
I'm more concerned about myfriend, yeah yes, um, and this
police stops us, asks for thedriver's license Perhaps his, I
don't think.
He asked for his passport, Ithink his license.
(26:25):
This driver shame on him doesnot speak Spanish.
He has lived on the border forhow many years, I can't remember
what he told me, but did notspeak any Spanish.
We're sitting there for I don'teven know, maybe 10 minutes,
like he.
You know, police officer goesaway, he comes back, finally he
(26:45):
lets us go, but he's like youhave to go to the back of the
line.
And I was like are you kiddingme?
So we turn around and we makeour way to the back me.
So we turn around and we makeour way to the back and, and you
know the, the maps are tellingus it's going to be like two and
a half hours of traffic.
And that's why I'm alsopanicking, because I don't think
(27:07):
we have two and a half hours tospare.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
Right.
Speaker 2 (27:10):
But we get in the back of the line at the exact
same location, a second policeofficer stops us.
And this is when I'm like, I ampanicking.
Again.
The police officer takes thedriver's license.
I whip out Google translatebecause I'm like this man.
The driver is useless to me atthis point.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:32):
I am going to try and converse with this police
officer.
I uh, don't remember, but I'mpretty sure I got a little
emotional.
Not I mean genuinely, you know,because I just like it was so
frustrating being being in thisenvironment, not being able to
communicate.
Obviously there'smiscommunication and I'm like
this is the driver's fault.
(27:53):
I should not be back in Mexico.
We're passing, like we passedby all the sites that I had
already seen.
I was like, oh, I just saw thisthis morning and here I am back
in Mexico.
Yeah, it was again a back andforth, maybe another 1015
minutes, I don't remember.
But the police finally let usgo, we get back in the line.
(28:15):
And this driver, I mean, he'slike I'm supposed to have a date
tonight and yeah, well like Idon't really care.
I have much, much more importantthings to attend to.
And he whips out.
He's got like a jar of peanutbutter in the car.
I don't remember what he atewith it Maybe some apple slices
and he turns on.
(28:36):
He's got a screen in the frontof his car.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
He turns on Netflix, like he has done this before.
I was so upset, so upset.
And then, you know, in the, inthe midst of all this, my friend
texts me she has made it acrossthe border and I'm like oh my
gosh, please, please, stay whereyou are, do not leave.
It's getting dark at this point.
(29:01):
And so we're making our waythrough the line.
Driver thinks it's a good ideato get into the global entry
lane.
He doesn't even have hispassport on him.
I thankfully had my backpackand I always carry my passport
and global entry card when I'mtraveling internationally.
But we get in this lane and myfriend is still texting me.
(29:26):
She says there's a bus here.
It's taking everyone else.
Should I get on the bus?
I'm like no, please don't geton the bus, I am coming, I will
meet you.
You know where you are, juststay there.
We, like are inching our wayforward.
Thankfully, the global entryline was much quicker than the
the standard line.
But then we were stopped by aninitial again a border patrol,
(29:47):
uh officer, and he asked to seethe driver's global entry.
Obviously he didn't have it.
I showed mine and that's how wegot through.
And I'm like please, you know,let us.
But again, this border patrolofficer was quite friendly, he
waved us through and then we gotto the second patrol officer
who would like let us into theUS.
(30:08):
And again the alarming thingabout this was that officer told
the driver he said well, nexttime it's going to be a $3,000
fine.
How privileged you don't evenhave your passport.
How easily you can get into theus.
You know what I mean.
That's what really.
(30:29):
Really, it's just, again, it'slike this, the juxtaposition of
it all, like how is thatpossible?
It just it seems very unfair.
So anyway, we passed through.
I was so excited to leave thisman I think we've been together
for three hours at this pointand you know what?
(30:50):
He still charged me.
Speaker 1 (30:52):
Still charged you.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
I did not leave a tip , you better believe.
But he charged me and I don'tremember.
I disputed it with Uber, but Idon't remember if I got refunded
, but anyway, he drops me off.
I see my friend, we we reunite.
I call a different uber thistime.
I tell this uber driver once weget into the car that what just
has happened and he wasflabbergasted.
(31:16):
He was like, is that man?
I don't remember he probablyhad some choice words, but he's
like you, you cannot miss thesign.
How do you drive back intomexico?
We make it to the hotel.
My friend, exhausted, justcrashes.
I go get us some food.
I bring it back and my favoritepart about this is the next day
(31:39):
she enjoyed I.
I got us tacos and okay, sheenjoyed the food so much that we
ended up going back to the sameplace for lunch, and it was
like she had been in Mexico forseveral months.
But it was a much differentexperience for her.
Of course.
She was kind of at the mercy ofwherever she was staying and
(32:02):
life was just really challenging.
When we had lunch the next day,she was like this is the first
time I'm, you know, and we're inthe US, we're in San Diego, but
she said this is the first timeI'm actually getting to
experience like Mexican culturefor the first time and enjoy it.
And that was really reallyimpactful to me because it's
like, as somebody who loves totravel, how often I mean, you
(32:27):
know, like that, that is myexperience in traveling.
I do it for the enjoyment of it, but for so many people it's
out of necessity and survivaland they don't have necessarily
the luxury of getting toexperience another culture.
And so it was just, yeah, itwas like a, it was a beautiful
moment, and eventually we madeour way to the airport and flew
(32:50):
to be reunited with her husbandand she hadn't seen in six
months exactly, and that, in andof itself, was like such a
meaningful encounter.
I mean, I photographed it andI'll remember that.
You know one of those memoriesthat you'll, you'll treasure
forever, forever, yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:10):
And she really hadn't seen anybody she knew for
months.
Speaker 2 (33:15):
Oh, absolutely, absolutely.
Yeah, it, overall it was.
I mean, when I look back onthis year, yeah, overall it was.
I mean, when I look back onthis year, it is favorite
Doesn't really feel like theright choice in words because a
very unique experience, but itis the most memorable experience
I have from this past year.
It's not lost on me howdifficult how many people are
(33:39):
trying to get into the US andhow easy it is to cross, you
know, back into mexico well,lauren, I've been wanting to
record this for a while, sothank you for spending a little
time with me.
Speaker 1 (33:50):
I wish we were in the car, headed out on a road trip
someplace, but we're still goingto do that yes, we sure will at
some point thank you very muchthank you for having me.
Speaker 2 (34:01):
It's always a pleasure.
Thank you for having me.
It's always a pleasure.
Speaker 1 (34:03):
Thank you for tuning in to Dan the Road Trip Guy.
I hope you enjoyed our journeytoday and the stories that were
shared.
If you have any thoughts orquestions or stories of your own
, I'd love to hear from you.
Feel free to reach out to meanytime.
Don't forget to share thispodcast with your friends and
family and help us to spread thejoy of road trips and great
conversations.
Until next time, keep driving,keep exploring and keep having
(34:27):
those amazing conversations.
Safe travels and remember youcan find me on the internet at
dantheroadtripguycom.
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