stuphel

MakeItSo: YIKES!

Thank you all. This has been most helpful.

We have always done this route to leave Matehuala on a Sunday am so as to have less traffic, and have been successful. Unfortunately, this year, the only Sunday that would work would be Easter Sunday. Major travelling weekend. Also perhaps no hotel rooms available? We think we will have to leave Matahuala on a weekday after Easter, but will try to leave very early (6 am) and perhaps the backup hasn't built as much so early. I welcome any thoughts.

We have gone north staying at Matehuala and up to Laredo/Colombia Bridge many times. We have also gone north staying in Saltillo and up. We prefer the Matehuala route as we have 2 dogs who enjoy the Las Palmas cyclopista after 6 hours in the car. HOWEVER, when we came south in the autumn, we saw huge long, long, multi-hour standstill traffic jams going north above Matehuala due to the military checkpoints, and we are reading of 3 hour traffic jams heading towards the border. Someone suggested taking carreterra 61 just outside of Matehuala to bypass the checkpoint (not concerned about the checkpoint, it's the 3 hour delay) and then cutting back to 57 farther north. Does anyone have an (informed) opinion about this plan?

The overpass linking this brand-new highway (following the route of the old Hwy 1) is complete. You can now drive from Columbia bridge on this new Colombia-laGloria Carreterra south, and end up at the spot on hwy 85 where it splits into the Cuoto and Free roads. I've heard from 2 people who have taken it in the last 2 weeks, and both found it a great road and excellent alternative to crossing at Columbia and then turning west on highway 2 for 20 miles or so to get onto 85. There is a lot of info about this new road online now that the overpass is complete (opened within the last 10 days or so).

Thank you Rick S. In fact, the overpass is now complete and functioning. I got a pm from someone who took it 48 hours ago. There are pictures of it online, and a Google streetview of the interchange between this carreterra and 85D. This new carreterra now runs from the Columbia Bridge Laredo to where Hwy 85 splits into cuoto and free roads. This new hwy, called the Columbia Gloria Carreterra, is concrete and 3 lanes (advertised as such, actually 2 lanes and wide shoulders in each direction) is phase 1 and 2 of a bigger project which is meant to run from the bridge to Monterrey, remaining in the state of Nueva Leone for the whole route. I have been asking about it because until recently it was under construction and I did not have any first-hand knowledge of the route. The gentlemen who answered my question about it in the other forum seem to base their opinions on the old ural, dirt road (which I would not have trusted.) The two people I have communicated with since have separately taken the new road within the last 2 weeks, and are very happy with it. I like the idea of crossing at Columbia (my preferred crossing for years) but not having to backtrack along highway 2 before getting onto hwy 85. This new route may be an excellent alternative. We will see.

Has anyone taken this route from the Colombia Bridge connecting to 85D since the new overpass recently opened? I've been told that its now a good alternative to going from the Bridge along hwy 2 to 85, as that area has had some bad activity recently. Has the road from the Bridge on been rehabbed or is the first section still a two lane rural road (that looks a little dicey based on Google Streetview (which has not been updated since 2022) Ive had reactions that it is a good new road with security, to its a major cartel artery. I'd appreciate any comments from anyone who has actually taken this road since construction. Thanks

We are coming down, by car with our 2 dogs, for the umpteenth time at the end of November. We have always crossed at Colombia, driven on 2 to the Nueva Laredo bypass and hooked onto 85 and 85D. We are aware that there are now some major concerns with these highways, and it has been suggested that we take Highway 1 after entering Mexico at the Colombia bridge, and then linking to 85 near Saltillo. Looking for advice or suggestions.

Members 344 Sorry, but this is a pretty specific question which will apply to very few readers: We come every year by car from Canada. We bring our car in attached to my husband's Tourist Visa. For several years we obtained our TIP online through Banercito before starting out. Recently we have obtained our TIP at the border instead. A couple of years ago we had a problem with our paperwork, due to changes in car registration in Ontario that was not yet recognized by the Mexican border people, and which caused us a delay of several days in Laredo while we got the correct paperwork sent down from Canada. Anyway, we thought we would avoid that problem by applying for our TIP in advance this year. However, my husband has just had his Canadian Passport renewed, and the assignment of a passport number has changed on new passports from a combination of 8 letters and numbers to 9 letters and numbers. It seems that the online application process will only recognize an 8 digit Canadian passport number, and not the new 9 digit ones. We tried dropping letters at the beginning or end and any number of alternatives. (We have not even got to the car registration section yet, which we do not know will be accepted.) The pre-authorization for a visa was accepted by immigrado with the longer number, but the TIP application to Banercito was not. We think we might be better off to get our TIP at the border once again. My question is: is there any Canadian in the group who has or is driving down from Canada with a newly renewed passport? Did the people at the border accept your passport number and process your TIP without problem? Did you have to jump through any extra hoops? I've tried looking online, but have had no luck. We really want to avoid any repeat of the week in purgatory we had on that previous entry.

Sorry, but this is a pretty specific question which will apply to very few readers: We come every year by car from Canada. We bring our car in attached to my husband's Tourist Visa. For several years we obtained our TIP online through Banercito before starting out. Recently we have obtained our TIP at the border instead. A couple of years ago we had a problem with our paperwork, due to changes in car registration in Ontario that was not yet recognized by the Mexican border people, and which caused us a delay of several days in Laredo while we got the correct paperwork sent down from Canada. Anyway, we thought we would avoid that problem by applying for our TIP in advance this year. However, my husband has just had his Canadian Passport renewed, and the assignment of a passport number has changed on new passports from a combination of 8 letters and numbers to 9 letters and numbers. It seems that the online application process will only recognize an 8 digit Canadian passport number, and not the new 9 digit ones. We tried dropping letters at the beginning or end and any number of alternatives. (We have not even got to the car registration section yet, which we do not know will be accepted.) The pre-authorization for a visa was accepted by immigrado with the longer number, but the TIP application to Banercito was not. We think we might be better off to get our TIP at the border once again. My question is: is there any Canadian in the group who has or is driving down from Canada with a newly renewed passport? Did the people at the border accept your passport number and process your TIP without problem? Did you have to jump through any extra hoops? I've tried looking online, but have had no luck. We really want to avoid any repeat of the week in purgatory we had on that previous entry.

OP here, clarifying. When this happened to us 10 years ago, we were informed that a turista could not leave the country without the car they drove in with. This was to curtail the dumping of foreign cars in Mexico. If we left the country, we had to turn in the tip and cross the border by car. The people who have responded have indicated that it would be ok, as long as the tip is up to date (it is...4 months left on it) our friend could fly out of the country, leave the car here, and return by air and continue to stay here until the tip expires in April. Again, this is not what the case was 10 years ago. Our choices were to drive out of Mexico or obtain special permission to fly, which took time, money and was problematic when we didn't need to go after getting permission to do so. Although my friend only needs to be in Canada for a few days, if he has to take the car across the border before he can fly, and then return with the car after his trip to Canada, it will add several days to his trip. He'd obviously like to avoid that if it is legally possible to do so. One concern I have, if the people who have responded are right and he can just leave his car and fly out of the country for a few days, is what does my friend do about his 'turista'? He obtained one when he entered the country by car in November and he is expected to turn it in when his trip here is up in April. He will be asked to fill another one out if he flies back from Canada after his emergency trip. Is his TIP not tied to his original turista visa? I will check all this out with a lawyer and imigrado next week. I'm just trying to determine the lay of the land

A friend is here on a turista visa. He drove in with his car, and has a TIP. He's 2 months in to a 6 month stay. An emergency has come up in Canada, and he has to return for several days. When this happened to us ten years ago, we only had 2 options: drive the car out of Mexico, go to a southern US airport with the car, fly to Canada, fly back to the airport, and drive the car (new tip, new turista) back to Ajijic from the border. OR Get a special letter/form from imigrado, which took awhile, giving permission to leave the country, and the car, temporarily, and use it to fly to Canada for a few days. In our case, we ultimately did not need to go to Canada after all, and there was some hassle because we didn't actually use the form. Our experience was 10 years ago. Before the lawyer is back in his office on Monday, I was wondering if anyone knew if the rules had changed in the last 10 years, or if there is a third alternative? I'll get anything confirmed bya lawyer and imigrado, but I'd like any advance info this weekend if you have it. Thanks.

My plantar fasciitis is acting up again. I usually buy Dr Scholl heel inserts for my shoes and it clears up after awhile. At the Farmacia Guadalajara I've only found full foot pads used to reline the soles of shoes...not really what I need. Does anyone know where I can buy the heel inserts? They are usually wedge shaped, raise the heel and taper down into the sole. Sometimes they are hard foam, and sometimes they are gel. Alternatively, does anyone know where I can buy orthotics? Thanks.

Last winter we hired Jose Luis Gonzalez at "Dirty Paws" Grooming to come to our house and bathe our two dogs, and trim the longer haired one. We were happy with the service and price. This winter I tried to contact Jose by telephone (376 108 8540) and WhatsAp, but have been unsuccessful getting a response. Does anyone know if he is still in business, has changed his contact info, or knows how I can get in touch with him? Alternatively, can anyone recommend someone to do the same service, and is available in the next week? Our little one is getting rather scruffy looking, and both dogs could use a bath. Thanks

Is there anywhere that cuts keys in central Ajijic? I have to be there tomorrow and have an hour to kill while waiting for my wife, so two birds with one stone as they say...