What's the ONE THING you wish you knew before your first ride south of the border?

[tedder]

Originally Posted by Apertureguy

Don't drink the water or get drinks with ice in them. Get bottled water or just drink beer..

6 months, local water, only time we had trouble was when we were cooking our own food and using sealed "water cooler" bottles. huh.

Originally Posted by aussie_explorer

I wish I had known how easy it would be to get help, no matter where I am - whenever I've had problems people have fallen over themselves to try and help get me back on track.

Indeed- especially when my wife was with me

[H96669]

[QUOTE=tedder;20173427]6 months, local water, only time we had trouble was when we were cooking our own food and using sealed "water cooler" bottles. huh./QUOTE]

I spent a few winters in Mexico driving old vans. Stopped at the water purification plants many times to buy water and refill my jugs. Watched them quite a few times just rinsing the water cooler bottles....then refill and cap.

[beechum1]

Originally Posted by quadman

In Mexico (and less so in Latin America) it is considered impolite to say "NO". So when speaking with a Mexican and asking for a negative or affirmative response...it will always be "YES". The three yes's are: Yes ....I will do it.....Yes ..I will think about it....Yes....I won't do it.... All you hear is "YES"...this leads to many misunderstandings.
I have lived here for 16 years and learn something new each day about the Mexican view of the world. Enjoy the ride!

Words don't mean things in Mexico. In english or spanish. I have 8 years.

[Misery Goat]

Originally Posted by miguelito

It was back in the 90s, and I crossed at Agua Prieta. I didn't know where to check into the aduana. I just assumed someone would tell me where I had to go. I ended up having to talk the checkpoint guard down the road about 40 miles into letting me go to the aduana south of Nogales, rather than backtracking. So, even though it worked out, I guess I wish I knew more about bringing vehicles into Mexico.

That's funny, I had all my bike stuff sorted when I entered MX but forgot to import myself. It made the border crossing at Guatemala fun.

I rode from Phx to Hermosillo the first day of my trip and realized I spoke little to no Spanish. Fun times.

I wish I knew how much I enjoyed traveling so I would've done this 10 years earlier.

[kantuckid]

Originally Posted by beechum1

Words don't mean things in Mexico. In english or spanish. I have 8 years.

Si! Si!,Si!,etc., infinitum...yeh it really messes with my feeble mind!

[junglemototours]

Originally Posted by Apertureguy

Don't drink the water or get drinks with ice in them. Get bottled water or just drink beer.

Also...the lettuce is rinsed with the same water.

There is a reason some of the stalls have 6 rolls of paper in them.

Where is this stall with paper? BYOTP

[tedder]

Originally Posted by junglemototours

Where is this stall with paper? BYOTP

indeed. It usually costs at least a few pesos from the lady or security guard outside the stalls.

[Lone Rider]

Originally Posted by tedder

indeed. It usually costs at least a few pesos from the lady or security guard outside the stalls.

Just stash paper in your gear, or in a jacket pocket. A roll of paper towels works well.
This is one thing thing assumed by many people that will take a short getting used to.
After that, no prob.

[tedder]

Originally Posted by Lone Rider

Just stash paper in your gear, or in a jacket pocket. A roll of paper towels works well.

I'm bigtime. I can afford a few pesos.

(and mz tedder wouldn't go for paper towels)

[going south]

Originally Posted by junglemototours

Where is this stall with paper? BYOTP

Yea no kidding I was wondering that myself??? A Mexican stall with paper?

he must have been in fantasy land.....

[Dr. Benny]

The stalls always have a toilet paper holder but never have toilet paper...

[HellsAlien]

Originally Posted by Dr. Benny

The stalls always have a toilet paper holder but never have toilet paper...

Si! And the agua is always caliente!

[catweasel67]

So...speaking as somone who's never ridden south of the border and was hoping to learn something.

2 pages of "advice" and all you can say is

"don't drink the water"

?

is there any chance you all mis-understood the OPs question?

[HellsAlien]

Originally Posted by catweasel67

is there any chance you all mis-understood the OPs question?

Si!

[tedder]

Originally Posted by catweasel67

is there any chance you all mis-understood the OPs question?

How is "don't drink the water" not advice?