A Mexican Adventure...and a Comedy of Errors

It was while walking Ollie, our Schnauzer, in the neighborhood that I saw the sign. "For Sale" written by hand and taped to the back window of a 2009 Jeep Wrangler. We had been looking for a new (or newer) vehicle for our home in Barra de Navidad, Mexico. The old Cherokee was slowly disintegrating in the coastal air, and it was becoming much less reliable. We needed a replacement. I had researched purchasing in Mexico but struggled with the costs. We also considered importing a vehicle from the US, and perhaps this is what we were looking for. Within a few days, we met with Mimi, our neighbor and owner of the Jeep, and deal was sealed. We could even park it in her extra garage while we figured out how to import it. 

We also have an attorney in Mexico who has helped us on various other issues, and he was able to facilitate the process. Othon found us an agent to help with the import, and after a few months it was all coming together. In December of 2023, we would drive to Nogales, Mexico and pick up our new plates at the DHL office. So, on Christmas Day we left Surprise and spent the night in Tubac, just north of the border. The next morning, we would cross at Nogales and we would be off. 

Yeah...right!

Whenever dealing with entities in Mexico, one must always be prepared for a change of plans. Of course, the license plates did NOT arrive at DHL as planned. They would not be there for several more days. Panic! What to do? Perhaps we can get temporary plates at the Tourist Visa and Auto Importation Station at KM 21? It sounded plausible…if we didn’t have our Permanente Residencia (the equivalent of a US Green Card in Mexico). Apparently Mexican residents cannot drive foreign plated vehicles in Mexico. We had no choice but to turn around and return to the US.

What complicated everything was the tight schedule with visitors coming to Barra. We still needed to be there by the end of the week. While waiting to cross into the US, Karen was on the phone and able to secure a couple of seats on a flight tomorrow morning. We parked the Jeep at the airport long-term parking and caught our flight.

Numerous phone calls to our attorney and the importer ensued, mostly starting with hablas englis (and sometimes without luck). During our final week in Barra in January, DHL arrived at our condo, with our plates and all the applicable stickers. We breathed a huge sigh of relief.

April rolled around, and we thought another attempt to drive the Jeep to Barra was in order. Reservations were made (at hotels that accepted pets, of which there were many). This time we left early in the morning and crossed the border around noon. Just south of Nogales we stopped at the auto import station and changed the plates on the vehicle. By late afternoon we were in Hermosilla for our first night in Mexico. The early part of the day the roads were surprisingly good, but as we got closer to Hermosillo, the potholes multiplied, and I was thankful for the new, all-terrain tires. It reminded me of an early video game where one dodged oncoming missiles.

Next stop was the little town of Topolobampo (yeah, it’s a mouthful). It is the eastern terminus of the ferry across the Sea of Cortez from La Paz, on the Baja peninsula. As we drove in we were struck by the colorful houses perched on the hillside above the bay. Truly charming. The hotel was on the water’s edge and offered a lovely respite from the day’s drive.

A perfect pic of Karen and Ollie as we came into Topolobampo.

The third day we left for Mazatlán. As we drove I noticed numerous gas stations along the way, so I didn’t fret about getting fuel. Strangely, the frequency of stations seemed to diminish as we came closer to Mazatlán and the gauge’s needle dipped ominously. Would we make it? Karen became so concerned that she insisted we get off the highway and find a farmer who perhaps had a tank from which we could buy fuel. I thought it best to stay on the highway, because if we did run out, at least someone could stop and help. We pulled off, drove a few kilometers without luck. I did not want to be stuck here. Back to the highway. I think the last few kilometers were downhill, and we made it to Mazatlán on fumes, stopping at the first gas station we found.  That night was spent at a seaside hotel with a nice casual dinner near the pool, and we watched the sun set over the sea. Over a Margarita I also promised Karen I would not let the gas tank go below the halfway point.

Next stop was Sayulita, a cute little town just north of Puerto Vallarta. Each day we drove between 6 and 8 hours, and the stretch between Mazatlán and Sayulita was perhaps the most beautiful. The roads in some portions were 4 lanes, divided and in some cases brand new with stunning views of the mountains and the ocean. It was obvious that Mexico is investing in infrastructure. As we drove further south, the ecosystem became lusher and more verdant. This is one of the reasons I love Mexico. Dinner that evening was at a sidewalk restaurant that arguably had the best Italian dinner…in Mexico, of all places.

On the fifth day, we arose and drove through Puerto Vallarta. This last segment is a familiar one for both of us, as we have flown into PV and either driven or rode a bus to Barra. This was also a shorter day, as Barra is only 4 hours south of PV. We arrived in the early afternoon.

It was a journey of almost 1,500 miles. Before leaving many asked us “aren’t you afraid?” For some, Mexico conjures up visions of cartel shootouts and bandits on the road. Our response is typically “Have you driven through south Phoenix lately”? As advised, we stayed on the toll roads and only drove during the day. Yes, we were stopped several times at checkpoints set up by the military and our vehicle searched twice. We also avoided certain towns known to be hotspots, such as Culiacan. The tollways made it quite easy. For me it was a lovely glimpse into typical Mexican life, where trucks ply the roads and people engaged in commerce, just like in the US.

The Jeep finally resting at the condos in Barra

As for the Jeep, all went very well and safely ensconced in Barra. We decided to name our Jeep Mimi, after her previous owner. Yes, I asked her, and she was delighted. You see, Mimi is the original Jeep girl. She showed us a photo of her perched on the hood of a WW2 Willys, when she first learned to drive. It could’ve been a poster.