Getting Glasses in Mexico...A Follow Up and New Material!

 

Ten Years ago I visited my parents in Sun City, Arizona with my then 14 year old son.  He's grown and handling his life on his own, and my parents are no longer with us and in a home respectively.  I still check this blog regularly and notice that the post I wrote about Getting Glasses in Mexico; I'm Not Kidding, is still one of my more popular posts.  That being said and the simple fact that all the information I provided with the post is old and out of date, I thought I'd give some new information.

Los Algodones is that town just across the border from California in Baja.  There's literally a parking lot at the border provided and maintained by the Quechan Tribe, where you can park in the area of Winterhaven, California and walk across the border for the day.  All you need is a passport or passport card for the visit.  Minor children with their parents can cross for the day only with documentation like a birth certificate.  No one will ask you for documents when you enter Mexico, but you will need them to get back into the U.S.  If you really want to, you can drive across this border and park on the Mexico side.  Don't know why you would, but you can.

My story in 2014 was about my son getting an eye exam and eyeglasses for $85.  The whole event took two and a half hours and my son loved the glasses.  Most of the rest of the day that we spent in the town was enjoying the markets and the restaurants.  The good news is that now it costs only around $90 for that experience, but maybe an extra $50 for the glasses themselves.  Prices have gone up a bit, but not much.

There are any number of reasons to visit Los Algodones, but the overwhelming reasons are medical.  Eyeglasses and examinations are inexpensive as I've mentioned.  Dental work is another amazing deal in the town.  There are some 900 dentists in the area doing all kinds of dental work.   Los Algodones has become known as the Molar City. 

Then, there's the meds.  Pharmacies in Mexico can give you up to 90 days of a supply of your prescription for a fraction of what you'd pay in the United States.  They carry many of the meds we all need.  Don't expect to find pain killers however.  That's one of the few things not on the list of available meds.  You'll find blood pressure meds, cholesterol, inhalers and so on.  You can get an inhaler like Symbicort for $40.  It's a steal for anyone dealing with a high deductible insurance.

So, why does Los Algodones work?  This is a combination of factors that happens in few places along the border.  The doctors in the town are mostly trained in the United States.  What's happened is that there's too much overhead in the U.S. for the doctors to provide inexpensive medical care.  When they move across the border by a hundred feet, that cost all but goes away.  The doctors working there don't want to charge people a fortune and pay a bunch of overhead for little to no reason.  They genuinely want to help people.  The solution became moving across the border.  It's been working for decades and giving many people a big break on their dentist work, glasses and meds.

The perk here is that instead of just feeling like you got ripped off at the dentist, optician, or pharmacy; you spend your money on a trip.  I'd much rather spend my money to travel than just to stay healthy.  It's the best of both worlds.

Do I recommend crossing the border to save money on medical needs?  I do and I don't.  Meds of course.  I got mine there the time that I visited.  Glasses of course.  I allowed my son to be examined and get glasses.  Dentistry?  I talked to many visitors who were there for dental work.  They'd all been there before and loved the results, so I would say a big yes.  

However, don't go overboard.  There are surgeons there who perform elective surgeries.  I know someone who's done that.  It didn't turn out well, albeit they did go to Tijuana.  They got an infection and nearly died.  I don't believe in elective surgery, so it doesn't even apply to me.  But, if you're curious about that, do a lot of research.  You can't be too careful when it comes to surgery.

As I'd said previously, we spent the rest of our day after medical things shopping and eating.  We had a great time.  We met merchants and other visitors.  We got some great souvenirs and ate some truly fabulous food.  It was a truly pleasant day and I would gladly do it again if the opportunity comes up.  I don't even need much in the way of any medical services.  I just really liked Los Algodones, Mexico.

So, ten years later and things remain the same in Los Algodones.  It's a great experience and I still would highly recommend it.  Remember to use travelers caution.  Don't be careless with your possessions or money.  So, below I've left some more current links to help you investigate this unique place to visit in the world.  So, grab your med list, pack your bags and enjoy!

https://adventuresforanyone.blogspot.com/2014/04/getting-glasses-in-mexicoim-not-joking.html

https://sanidentalgroup.com/blog/5-important-things-you-need-to-know-before-traveling-to-los-algodones-mexico

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g642246-i11850-k14302033-My_dental_experience_Feb_2023-Los_Algodones_Baja_California.html#116761844

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g642246-Los_Algodones_Baja_California-Vacations.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjuqiuyYLtw

https://apollomedicaltravel.com/locations/los-algodones-the-apollo-guide/

https://www.medicaltourismex.com/locations/medical-tourism-los-algodones

https://www.losalgodones.com/

https://www.bordercrxing.com/history-of-los-algodones.html

https://www.hotels.com/de857928/hotels-los-algodones-mexico/?semcid=HCOM-US.UB.GOOGLE.DL-DSA-c-EN.HOTEL&semdtl=a112413870301.b1119916623404.g1aud-2141179518407:dsa-1029965199087.e1c.m1Cj0KCQjwiYOxBhC5ARIsAIvdH50qCQkzxVg14HKru22Y3LFASmwSlnhF01I2jsBsOTXYEClnRhTpjGEaAgewEALw_wcB.r1.c1.j19003419.k1.d1658954006555.h1.i137831950847.l1.n1.o1.p1.q1.s1.t1.x1.f1.u1.v1.w1&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwiYOxBhC5ARIsAIvdH50qCQkzxVg14HKru22Y3LFASmwSlnhF01I2jsBsOTXYEClnRhTpjGEaAgewEALw_wcB

https://www.medicaltourismco.com/dental-tourism-in-los-algodones-mexico/

https://algodonesdentalgroup.com/the-mansion-algodones/

https://www.dayodental.com/destinations/los-algodones/

https://algodonesdentalgroup.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwiYOxBhC5ARIsAIvdH50XzOLvngerhEYXqUoh_2vjWayiUKvqts2qXpjHxEWtTFGJN7DrYjAaAqlYEALw_wcB

https://www.molarcity.com/about-molar-city-los-algodones-mexico.php

https://www.internationalmedsolutions.com/service/pharmacy/?location=algodones

https://mediplazalosalgodones.com/stores/one-stop-pharmacy/

https://www.molarcity.com/pharmacies-los-algodones-molar-city-mexico.php

http://algodonesoptical.net/

https://clearvisionopticalalgodones.com/

https://www.castleoptical.com/

https://mediplazalosalgodones.com/stores/20-20-vision-center/

https://soldental-optical.com/

https://www.molarcity.com/opticals-in-los-algodones-molar-city-mexico.php

Here's Some Fabulous Budget Ideas!

 

Who doesn't want to travel?  I've spent my life seeing as much of the world as I possibly can.  Most of the time, that means budget.  Today, I'm sharing some of the fun ways I've found that you can travel for much less.  Have I tried them all?  No, but I want to.

1.    It's called WWOOF.  World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms.  That's right.  You help out on any of the farms in the network, and you get free lodging and meals.  Sometimes more, but that's from place to place.  This was created in the 1970's.  Over 50 years and counting.  They operate in over 130 countries.  There are over 12,000 hosts.  It's an amazing network and also a great way to learn about the area you're visiting and meet some wonderful people.  It leaves you with only travel expenses from place to place, because hosts normally feed the help too!

https://wwoof.net/

https://wwoofusa.org/en/

https://wwoofinternational.org/

https://wwoofindependents.org/en/

https://www.facebook.com/WWOOF/

2.    House Sitting.  I was shocked and you would be too.  There are a lot of people who don't want to leave their houses empty or their pets in a kennel.  There are numerous ways to set up a housesitting situation where you want to travel.  Do you like dogs and cats?  Pet sitting is a great way to get around.  You help someone out while they travel and you get free accommodations.  

https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/house-and-pet-sitting-assignments/

https://www.mindmyhouse.com/

https://www.housesittersamerica.com/

https://www.nomador.com/

https://www.housesittersites.com/?c=2&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw5v2wBhBrEiwAXDDoJYBH06M2Uvehcwp5Tefkg-TBg_yP2WwEMe0cY4T6NNmlc6IwDmdSZRoCZasQAvD_BwE

3.    House Swapping.  Are you sick of looking at the same four walls and need a temporary change of view?  There might be someone out there in the same shoes.  As long as you don't mind someone coming to stay in your house, you can look into staying in someone else's house.  It's that simple.  

https://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/usa/tennessee/east/trade?locale=en_US&siteid=9001001&semcid=VRBO-US.UB.GOOGLE.DT-c-EN.VR&semdtl=a112250888680.b1136810776411.g1kwd-296649452393.e1c.m1CjwKCAjw5v2wBhBrEiwAXDDoJVn-qlUQgT4Y7EFxxfhU-lms9dKmpVNCw-9VraKH6bnmHZJnjzXlkBoCWSoQAvD_BwE.r101b639fa29dd994cfaee20463da4dc90e14882bc5cb5827010893c7a48295565.c1-uuQ7RoPI0Vjvw8X_P1aew.j19003419.k1.d1569794701018.h1b.i1.l1.n1.o1.p1.q1.s1.t1.x1.f1.u1.v1.w1&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw5v2wBhBrEiwAXDDoJVn-qlUQgT4Y7EFxxfhU-lms9dKmpVNCw-9VraKH6bnmHZJnjzXlkBoCWSoQAvD_BwE

https://www.homeexchange.com/p/house-swap?esvt=-e&esvq=house%20swap%20websites&esvadt=999999---1&esvcrea=660033096130&esvplace=&esvd=c&esvtg=kwd-1925329168&esvaid=50179&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw5v2wBhBrEiwAXDDoJaiVI2hokIHIDNVjZPH--kRYt1MSYIi8GCoJtvArd7Ax2hoacweljRoCoGIQAvD_BwE

https://www.lovehomeswap.com/

https://peoplelikeus.world/en

https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/sleeping-eating/house-swapping-tips

4.    Couch Surfing.  This is a unique way to travel, my friend.  This means staying with people.  If you like company and meeting people, this could be a money saving and travel experience enhancing venture.  I don't know it this one's for me, but it does sound interesting.

https://www.couchsurfing.com/

https://www.instagram.com/couchsurfing/?hl=en

https://www.halfwayanywhere.com/travel/budget-travel/how-to-never-pay-accommodation-couchsurfing/

https://travelladies.app/couchsurfing

https://www.save70.com/hotels/?campaignid=19243937451&adgroupid=141304741381&lpage=k&lb=alpha&marvel=1&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw5v2wBhBrEiwAXDDoJaaMfEM3wAVEArrfWfaB3sI--4O9JkzKvYp8jenVhbSuuz18A5nTjxoCqHoQAvD_BwE

5.    Volunteer.  That's right.  One of the most rewarding vacations you can take, and I've done this one, is to volunteer.  There are so many ways to do it.  You can do anything from cleaning trails to tagging animals to working in clinics and on and on.  There are many ways you can help all around the world and get a unique look at the places you'll visit!

https://discovercorps.com/landing/volunteer-vacations-11-50-percent/?utm_source=google_search&utm_medium=search_text&utm_campaign=dc_volunteer&utm_term=volunteer_vacation&creative=613575674091&keyword=volunteer%20vacations&matchtype=b&network=g&device=c&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw5v2wBhBrEiwAXDDoJQkM6uZJApsgnl6ygdNW7zoAphSAAvHUJmqFe6FeF8zTc9AGcwSYEhoC-AAQAvD_BwE

https://wvtourism.com/remote-work-extended-stays/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw5v2wBhBrEiwAXDDoJcKW31kDSLMpg_Tnx885_R6cY9E353djOYl7Hs7g9Jb4S4rVXIFpLhoCUgkQAvD_BwE

https://www.volunteerworld.com/en

https://americanhiking.org/volunteer-vacations/

https://www.gooverseas.com/blog/meaningful-volunteer-vacations

6.    It's called Harvest Hosts.  If you joined the trend during the pandemic of travelers who bought a van or an RV of some kind, this might appeal to you.  As long as you have a self contained vehicle, you can make arrangements to park at locations within the network.  Primarily wineries and breweries, the visitors have a chance to taste product, shop at the store on the property and have a peaceful and oftentimes scenic stay.  Locations are mostly in the United States, but they are ever expanding into Canada, Mexico and all over.  It is a membership club, just so you know.

https://www.harvesthosts.com/

https://www.facebook.com/HarvestHosts/

https://www.cruiseamerica.com/trip-inspiration/harvest-host

https://www.instagram.com/harvesthosts/?hl=en

https://blog.campingworld.com/campgrounds-travel/how-to-camp-at-a-harvest-hosts-location/

So, there you have it.  I've said for years that travel doesn't have to cost a lot of money.  I've also said that traveling isn't tourism and that the adventure is what makes it memorable.  These are some of the ways you can travel for less and have a full experience.  These are some ways to travel that will make great stories to tell when you get home and they will be stories that none of your friends can match.  So, consider taking an adventure, pack your bags and enjoy!

Have You Ever Taken a Walk Across a Notable Bridge?

 

I wanted to take a minute to discuss one of the best things you can do while out traveling, and it doesn't cost a thing.  One of the things I have come to love is walking bridges.  You get both a view of the bridge and views from the bridge, and in a lot of cases, it can't be beat.  You also might be surprised at how many bridges are available for pedestrians.

1.   Try out bridge walking in New York City.  We all saw people walking across the Brooklyn Bridge after 911.  We know you can walk that bridge.  But, did you know that most bridges in New York City are walkable?  Let me put it this way.  You can't walk the Triborough Bridge or the Verrazano Narrows Bridge.  The others are fair game and most of them have great views of the city and the harbor.

2.  The Hudson River.  Let's start with the George Washington Bridge.  It's walkable.  So is the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge on the south bridge, the Mid Hudson Bridge in Poughkeepsie, the Kingston Bridge on the south side and the Rip Van Winkle Bridge.  Also, let us not forget the most notable one; The Walk Across the Hudson in Poughkeepsie.  That one is part of an extended rail trail and is an amazing experience.

3.  There are several walkable bridges in San Francisco, California as well.  Most notably, The Golden Gate Bridge.  That's right.  Walkable.

4.  The Bridge of Flowers, Shelbourne Falls, Massachusetts.  This is a veteran's memorial that used to be a trolley bridge and part of a great day along the Mohawk Trail, Route 2 in northern Mass.  It's a must see that I visit regularly.

5.  New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia.  You can only walk on this bridge once a year on bridge day when all the base jumpers are allowed on the bridge,  but you can walk under the bridge on a tour pretty much any day.

6.  Cincinnati, Ohio has many pedestrian available bridges across the Ohio River.  All but the Big Mac Bridge are walkable.  Personally, I love the Purple People Eater Pedestrian Bridge.

7.  Portland, Oregon has a few walkable bridges.  The Tilikum Crossing Bridge of the People is available and so is the lower deck of The Steel Bridge.  People do walk on other bridges, but it's in kind of an unofficial capacity.

8.  The Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota is a repurposed bridge open to cyclists and walkers across the Mississippi River.

9.  Here's another one of my favorites.  London Bridge, Lake Havasu, Arizona.  Forget the simple fact that Arizona really has a lack of water.  That being said, at one point, the old London Bridge was for sale and someone bought it.  The bridge was taken apart, shipped to Arizona and rebuilt brick by brick in Lake Havasu.  It's completely walkable and has a great story to go with it.

10.  The Rainbow Bridge, Niagara Falls, New York/Ontario, Canada.  That's right.  You can walk across the border and have an amazing view while doing it.  The gorge at Niagara is amazing, and seeing it from over the river is a treat.  Bring your passport if you go.  It is an international border.

So, there are a lot of bridges that are open to pedestrians.  You'd be surprised.  I always am.  We all spend a lot of time driving from one destination to another, but there are great views to be seen all along the way.  There's nothing like the view from a bridge, so don't shy away from it.  Take a walk.  Get that amazing view.  Take some pictures that you can only take from a bridge.  Use that time to get outside and experience something that maybe you hadn't really thought about and enjoy!

https://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/2022/june/08/20-iconic-bike-and-pedestrian-bridges-in-america/

https://www.rd.com/list/visually-stunning-pedestrian-walkways-across-the-u-s/

https://www.budgettravel.com/article/best-pedestrian-bridges

https://www.traillink.com/trail-traveler/the-most-beautiful-trail-bridges-in-america/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g191-Activities-c47-t5-United_States.html

https://streeteasy.com/blog/nyc-bridges-11-new-york-bridges/

It Was Quite An Experience...Not Just the Eclipse!

 

To be fair, this is probably a lot of what you saw through your eclipse glasses.  It's the way you're supposed to view the eclipse and it works really well.  We heard an awful lot about the eclipse this time, and it made a lot of people curious.  There were events scheduled across the path of the total eclipse.  There were entire cities and towns that did their best to celebrate it.  At my age, I always wanted to see one, and this one was only a day trip away.

This is what we all saw just after 3:15 pm.  I didn't take this.  This comes from NBC News.  However, this is what I saw and it was spectacular.  My friend Daphne was with me.  But, that's not the whole story.  What we experienced was crazy.

It's astounding the difference a few minutes makes when there's a solar eclipse.  It's like someone flipped a switch and turned the lights out.  What is it about nature that makes humans go a little nuts?  I don't know but I'm part of it for sure.  I went to Iceland in January to see the Northern Lights.  I love nature and want to see some of its best shows.

I think the thing that amazed me more than the eclipse itself was the crowds.  I can't complain honestly, because we too drove all the way to the Adirondacks to view the eclipse.  We intended to go to Ausable Chasm.  We left at 9 am.  We had five plus hours to get there and it was a 3 and a half hour drive.  No worries.

Wow, were we surprised.  I want to thank the good people of Schroon Lake for putting up with a lot of crazy out of towners and being super hospitable during the event.  It was as far as we could get.  It was a total eclipse spot.  The locals gave us glasses to look through.  They had all the bathrooms open for everyone to use.  The were a lot more cheerful than I would have been if that event descended on my little village the way it did theirs.  You are a gracious community and thank you.

Along the way before reaching Schroon Lake, we encountered bumper to bumper traffic.  We saw several accidents.  We saw a lot of break downs.  We stopped at gas stations that were out of gas.  We stopped at convenience stores that were out of water and most snacks.  It was bedlam, and I've never seen the Adirondack region like that in the 30 years plus that I've been traveling there.  

After the event, me and my friend decided to give people a chance to clear out of the area and then we thought it would be easier.  We were wrong.  We tried I-87 with no luck.  The traffic was stand still as far as the eye could see.  We tried Route 9 with no luck.  We actually sat in a small town with three traffic lights for over an hour.  Our supposedly 8 hour trip took 14 hours.  It was some of the craziest stuff I've ever seen.

So, was it worth it?  I discovered a tiny town in the Adirondacks that I'd never been to before.  It was a wonderful town full of wonderful people.  They welcomed us as though we'd lived there for years.  I discovered a place I would like to visit again.  I saw an event that I probably won't get another chance to see in my lifetime.  I spent the day with a good friend.  I had an adventure.  It was so worth it.  

Life isn't always about the destination.  That was supposed to be 60 miles north of where we ended up.  Life is about the journey.  I believe that.  I've always believed that.  I always will believe that.  All in all, I couldn't have asked for a better experience.  It wasn't what I'd planned.  I think it was better.  And the traffic?  Well, there were about a half million other people who wanted to have an adventure too.  I can't fault them for that.

So, when you get that once in a lifetime chance, take the time to do it.  Get behind the wheel and enjoy!

https://poststar.com/eclipse-reporter-andrew-valenza-is-ready-in-schroon-lake-new-york-for-the-eclipse-april/video_2f6d8fe8-f5c8-11ee-95c7-536392b44d84.html

https://www.tiktok.com/@twobuttonsdeep_/video/7355595772114521386

https://poststar.com/news/local/weather/eclipse-preparation-begins/article_33fc2c00-f5b8-11ee-bdf1-33e4aefbea79.html