The drive was uneventful (except we forgot about the time change between CA and AZ). Luckily, being Capricorns, we'd left plenty early and arrived with time to spare. The walk across the border was smooth and quick (no questions… didn't even want to see our passports). Then things got busy. What had been peace and tranquility melted quickly away as we stepped out of the customs area and into the Los Algodones street. Cars, bicycles, people pushing carts overflowing with wares, hucksters and hawksters every where you turned: it was enough to make you dizzy. We had, we thought, an hour to have lunch before my appointment with the dentist at 1:00.
Walking up the street was like running a tactical marathon. Every two feet someone (mostly men) stepped out of doorways to confront us and challenge us. "Where you going? I can help you". Want a dentist? I will take you." "Need some glasses? I know the best one." And on and on and on.
After a few blocks of walking we found ourselves in the same block our dentist was supposed to be. There were a lot of doorways and many were under construction or renovation. We stopped and were considering our options when a woman, dressed like an office attendant came out of a door right beside us. It was a door with no title and the area around it was obviously under construction. She asked us if we were looking for Dr. Chavez and we assured her we were. That was when we realized the time difference. She went back inside, apparently looking for the Dr. and we waited outside. A few moments later a man came up behind us and asked us to follow him; to another door across the street from the first door. Needless to say we were getting a little nervous and wondering if this was a scam and we were being lured to the office of a butcher. That's about when the woman reappeared and we questioned both of them. To our relief it turned out Dr. Chavez's office was being renovated and he was using the office of a different dentist until his was ready.
We finally got sorted out and I saw Dr Chavez in the office across from the one being renovated. Turned out my crown could not be replaced and what was left of the tooth had to be extracted. It also turned out my gums were receding from the older bridge in the same area. There was a second option as well that involved bone grafts and an implant and even more work… we chose the first option and he got to work. Two hours later I was released and we made an appt. to return on Friday for the permanent bridge.
The return to our vehicle wasn't nearly as smooth as walking into Mexico. The line of people waiting to cross back into the U.S. was over half a mile long and moving forward very slowly. With no other option, we joined the shuffling line and about an hour later managed to pass through security without even a question. Back to Rio Bend we fled.
Not much more to this story but suffice to say, I m glad the worst is over and there is hope for my smile yet 🤓
May your teeth remain strongly planted and your day be filled with sunshine. CJ
www.cjdaley.ca
www.ruddyduckpress.ca
www.svshannon.blogspot.com
