Baja Review A community newspaper serving Ensenada, Valle de Guadalupe, and Rosarito in Northern Baja California
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I’ve never been good at finding my way, so I was happy when Map Quest came along and thrilled with the arrival of the GPS.
When we moved to Mexico I bought the right chip for my GPS and hoped for the best. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. It will get me to the border crossing in Otay. It will not get me to the San Ysidro crossing in Tijuana.
I’ve tried half a dozen times. I rode with my friend and watched carefully. To no avail. I saw with a certainty that I would never be able to do this twisty, turny, U turn containing pathway. I took comfort from her admission that it took her two years of getting lost, rambling around, and asking people on the street for advice before she got it herself.
People here are friendly and usually helpful, and many speak English. Just pull over and say “Por favor, ayuda?” “Habla Ingles?” (Please, help. Do you speak English?) If they say “Poquito.” Then try, “Where is the entrance to San Diego?”
It does sometimes feel like the entrance to Sentri is carefully hidden. Every time we cross to shop in San Diego, I fret until we get to the border, then we’re across and the signs are in English and the GPS works and it’s easier.
Nonetheless, I wouldn’t trade this life for anything, easier or not, and I’m always happy to cross back into Baja for the drive home, which is easy as pie.
The GPS coordinates for Otay are N32 32.820 by W116 56.250.
