Vegimite- an acquired taste! [and Lashes in SD]

[Ponine]

March 12, 2007

After a stressful and hectic morning, at least on my part, Lashbear, Lashstoat, and Ponine boarded a tour bus to take them to picturesque Tijuana, Mexico.
What we didn’t know, is that we were boarding a bus, to pick up other people, to take us to another bus. So with that in mind, we’ll skip over the first hour of the adventure and let you imagine it for yourselves.

Once we boarded the OFFICIAL bus, we were treated to meeting our driver whom we decided should be affectionately called Uncle Manny.
Uncle Manny was a bit unsure of how his microphone dealt with feedback, so we were treated to a good five, to ten minutes of feedback noise that made us all crazy. Yes, I exaggerate, but trust me, it felt even longer.
Then once we were on the freeway, Uncle Manny told all about what time we had to be back on the bus, and what we could and couldn’t bring back, but, in a voice so quiet that even over his microphone, and the speakers amplifying his voice you had to strain to hear him, and even then only caught half of it.
Okay………… that was… something about no ammunition or guns, he said no knives like three times… and something about an amount liquor per person, but he said that we could each have a bottle..and no live animals. Is that what everyone else heard?

Uncle Manny drove us across the border, and took us on a mini tour to our off load point, but I didn’t hear most of what he was telling us about the river since, again, you couldn’t hear him.

We left the bus, and headed into shopping nirvana. Or something similar. Greg was the first one to get reeled into a store. Eventually we followed him. I think they were trying to convince Rob that he needed a leather coat or some such silliness. Or a poncho that resembled the Mexican Flag. Which he did actually try on. Luckily, he bought neither.
Both men were enlightened to the experience that is Ave Revolution very quickly. People begging you to come into their stores, asking them to come look at stuff they didnt need.... etc. I think Greg was even asked if he wanted to sit on a Jacka$$. Which made us all laugh.
They found some tequila that was to their liking, and they found kitschy souvenirs for the folks back home……..
And they got coffee from a Mexican Burger King!!!! Tres swank!

We did not stop for lunch till around 12:30 at which point we ate at once of the restaurants that Uncle Manny recommended on the drive in. As we stood on the sidewalk debating where to go, the man standing outside looked at Rob and said “margaritas – two for one”! Well that was it.

We over ordered, two combinations, guacamole, and jalapeño surprise (poppers). The men each ordered a margarita, then after sampling the jalapeño surprise, ordered another.
Lunch was finished, mariachis sang to us, and we were stuffed. When I returned from ladies room I found that they had ordered shots of tequila! Okay okay, they couldn’t leave TJ without a shot… so I grant them that.
Rob and I taught Greg the finer points of drinking a tequila shot, and then when finished they needed a margarita chaser. ...Let's see... thats one shot and three margaritas in one sitting.

We did a few more shops….Rob needed to buy a Frida bag. Bless him. With no idea of who she was, he needed a hot pink meican shopping bag for a friend back home. We then got our pic taken with a ‘zedonk’ after I begged, and then we headed for the bus.

Alas! We found the bus at 30+ minutes before our scheduled time, and he was ready to go!!!!
So when checked in, and I went onto the bus with our many treasures, and they went to find another bottle of tequila. Beucase at the first store we only bought one, we were allowed one per. (Hell, they should have bought two more... I didnt buy any)

We then got to experience walking through customs at the border, without very long lines and without very many people waiting around. And without hassles I might add. Really, not a true representation.

We had a nice bus ride back to the hotel, and made it safe and sound.
They did invite me to the room to test out the new tequila that was just purchased, mixed with the margarita mix they had in the room. (They had previously been using vodka!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Everyone enjoyed a nice relaxing margarita, and then I left them to their peace and quiet.
<pictures to follow>