The Journal  

13 November 2005

Crossing the Border

Author: Jeremiah

Photographer: Holly

 

Border Crossing

November 11

We crossed into Nuevo Laredo over Puente Internacional Numero Uno, a bridge that crosses a narrow and sluggish Rio Grande . Our first border crossing was easier than a sobriety check point. Bored-looking guards motioned us through as pedestrian traffic swarmed across the bridge. We were waved through without stopping and followed the signs to the immigration office. It took about an hour to get our tourist visas and a temporary import permit for the motorcycle. The Mexican government requires that tourist's vehicles be registered and documented that they leave the country and are not sold there. In typical American fashion I'm surprised that more signs aren't in English. I'm also surprised at how well I get along with the Spanish I haven't used since college. After finishing at the office, we changed a U.S. twenty into pesos and were on our way to Monterrey .

A huge Mexican flag waved to border crossers in both countries from the immigration office.

A pizza delivery bike is parked in front of the immigration offices at the Mexico border crossing. Inside you could exchange money, buy insurance, obtain temporary tourist visas and get a vehicle permit.

The first thing that strikes you as you enter Mexico is the contrasts. A billboard advertising Paris Hilton perfume rises out of a shanty town of sheet metal and plywood-walled houses. The roads are filled with everything from dilapidated cars from the 1960s to brand new SUVs. A little taco stand is parked outside of a Mexican KFC. Some children walk the streets dressed in the latest fashion. Some are barefooted and in rags. Just outside of town we're stopped at a police checkpoint by a sullen faced teenager wearing army fatigues and toting an H&K rifle. They check our import papers, but not our luggage and wave us on.

As we crossed the border into Mexico we broke the first of our pre-agreed upon riding rules; we rode after dark. It was nearly five o'clock when we left Nuevo Laredo .

We took Mexico 85 south, a four-lane, paved interstate road. Laredo began to disappear and we passed through miles of automobile graveyards, their signs advertising “yonke.” Within half an hour, we were watching the sun set over the Sierra Madre Oriental Mountains . In the daylight, the flat, arid plains leading up to the mountains look deserted from the road, but as darkness fell, the ember glow light of small towns appear on both sides of the highway. About 30 miles out of Nuevo Laredo we took the 85 toll road, a well-paved highway where the speed limit is 110 km/h (about 70 mph) and we make the final 150 miles to Monterrey quickly. By seven o'clock, we were on the outskirts of the city, the third largest in Mexico .

Cruising down Highway 85, this was Holly's first attempt at taking pictures while we were moving. Daylight was quickly fading along the road as we neared Monterrey.

A self-portrait taken by Holly while in motion.

All photographs © Holly Marcus / Page design by Robin Marcus