I had posted several questions about driving to Mexico, crossing the
border, insurance, etc.

I was enquiring about the Colombia Solidarity Bridge and how the road
connected to the cuota M85 on the Mexican side. No one could respond.
While I did not take it, it seems that there is a loop on the Mex side
from the bridge that hooks into M85 so it should be fast. While we
did not encounter many delays on either side crossing at Laredo on
Bridge #2 if it was a really busy time, or if there was a US terrorist
alert, Colombia Bridge would definitely be my 1st choice. Plus you
bypass completely Laredo and Neuvo Laredo which are both ********s in
my opinion.

We (my wife and I) left Ottawa Ontario, Canada at 7:00am on Wednesday
December 3 and drove on the 401 through Kingston (about 15 semis in
the ditch from a storm the day before) Toronto, London (about another
15 semis in the ditch), Windsor (no snow at all at the time), Detroit
around rush hour (we missed most of it) then I75 down through Toledo
Ohio, Dayton, Cinncinati, Lousville Kentucky, Nashville Tenn, Memphis,
Little Rock Ark, Texarkana Tx, Dallas, Austin (horrible traffic jams
each way both times on I35 and no way around it) to San Antonio. This
was driving straight through only stopping for gas. Spent the night
in San Antonio and had dinner on the Riverwalk at an outdoor cafe.
Shirtsleaves were all that were required in terms of outerwear (it was
75F).

Driving all night avoided most of the rush hour traffic in the large
cities, plus the traffic is so much lighter. On the return we left
Mexico Friday and drove all night, Saturday and Sunday to get home.
Spent Sat night in a motel in Canada). Weekend travel for a cross US
Trip on Interstates is definitley the preferred method. You miss all
the rush hours.

Next day border was no biggie, crossed at Bridge #2 in Laredo. You
pay $27 USD plus 10%IVA for the car permit on your credit card. I was
told that on the way back you can return the permit as a partial
return (which we did) and then when you come back in you can get
another piece of paper that will allow you to keep the car in Mexico
until the original expiration date (180 days from original entry).
There is no charge in theory to extend the partial return. You keep
the sticker on your windshield when doing the partial return. And if
you don't return back since it was partially returned it is considered
cancelled with no hassle to cancel.

Tolls were as advertised before. Free divided M85 for about 40 KMS.
Then cuota of $167MX to before Monterrey, $92 for the Monterrey
bypass to Saltillo, then you hit the free divided road to Saltillo
with about 40kms. That road can be trouble in fog or very cold
conditions. Lots of trucks, and a poor slippery surface, with curves
not meant for the speeds most locals drive them at.

Saltillo was great. Perfect weather, and the city has grown up alot.
Nice Desert Museum. Lots fo good shopping US style (big box stores).

Many things are alot cheaper than in the US, others are lot more. If
you know your prices there are some good bargains now in Mexico.

I bought liability insurance for 1 year from Lewis and Lewis. If you
deal with them beware that they are open only from 9-5 PST Monday to
Friday and closed for lunch. No evenings, weekends, holidays, etc.
They were closed from Wednesday to Monday on Thanksgiving with no
message on their phone machine or web page stating that. I thought
they were bankrupt. Once I got through they were good to deal with
and cheaper. At the border the same policy with the same Mexican
company (Qualitas) was more than double the price. I checked for the
hell of it.

It turns out I didn't need insurance. Once in Saltillo I didn't drive
at all and if it was just for the trip there and back I would not buy
insurance since you have liability insurance on the toll roads
anyways.

24 Moosehead cans of beer at the big box City Club were $5USD
including taxes and deposit. Moosehead is Canadian and a premium beer
not a discount brand like Old Milwalkee, etc. Remy Martin Cognac VSOP
was almost half what it cost herei n Canada and about 30% cheaper than
the duty free store at the US border into Canada. Imported wine is
still double the price in Mexico. The prices are all over the map. I
got a roll of 24 film developed and printed at City Club for about
$2.50USD including taxes and the quality was better than here at
Costco. 50 Verbatim 52x CDR were about 40% cheaper than here in
Canada.

Printers were about double the cost compared to here as is factory
ink.


Thats it for now.