Documentation.. I hate paperwork....

 Driving into the heart of Mexico takes a little more paperwork than I expected.



A driver's license and birth certificate just won't cut it..  All 6 of us went to the post office to get our passports.  They just showed up a few weeks ago.  We still need tourist cards but we can only get those at the border.

Mexico requires an "importation permit" to bring your vehicle into the heart of Mexico (if you stay within 26 km of the border you don't need it).  I ordered ours online (I hope it will save us time at the border).  It is pretty official looking.  I wish I could read it.....

 American auto insurance doesn't cover you in Mexico.  You need a Mexican insurance policy.  You can conveniently buy it when you order your importation permit.  I considered shopping around, but it wasn't that expensive and I didn't think it wise to go with a sketchy Mexican insurance carrier....



In addition to all the "weird" stuff.  You also need an american drivers license and a copy of you car title.  They also recommend you make multiple copies of EVERYTHING in case something gets lost.

He proposes a trip to Mexico for Christmas

So Dexter and I are sitting on the couch one evening toward the end of the summer and a conversation begins, something like this

Dexter: "I have an idea for Christmas.  Can you keep an open mind?"
Me: "I always have an open mind."
Dexter:  "I think we should go to this place in Mexico for Christmas.  It's only about a 20 hour drive."
Me: "Are you crazy?" So much for the open mind!

For the next week or so we begin discussing this idea.  One that totally and completely freaks me out, but also intrigues me.  After being married for 16 years, I've learned that Dexter always has some new adventure brewing.  I've also learned that once he focuses on something, it's hard to get his mind off of it.  But the best part is that I know he is a thorough researcher and problem solver and wants what's best for our family.

So I begin doing a little research on my own.  We find an awesome house to stay in (our home away from home)  and the plans are set in motion for this adventure.

Lets go to Mexico for Christmas

So...  We're going to San Miguel de Allende in Mexico for Christmas. It's not a vacation, it's an adventure.  We hope to share the experience with you on this blog.

So...  Why???
1.  Have you seen it: San Miguel de Allende

I hadn't ever heard of the place prior, but I came across some photos of it on the internet and looks so.....so....... foreign.  It is hard to believe a place like this is within about 20 hours of driving from KC. Here is article that came out just a month ago listing it as the best city in the world.  I don't know about that, but we will see for ourselves.

2.  Allison and I are trying to get away from the commercialization of Christmas.  We want Christmas to be about Christ, and enjoying each other as a family.  The "stuff" is just a distraction. We can't take much "stuff" with us so that won't be a problem.

3.  I believe our boys need to be "stretched" out of their comfort zone to grow into men.  Hopefully getting them out of JOCO for awhile will allow them to feel more comfortable when they are in foreign countries, around foreign people, and in unfamiliar situations.

4.  Some of our best memories as a family unit so far have been traveling.

So.. You are driving through Mexico huh..  Are you worried about being ________ (insert horrible occurrence....mugged, kidnapped, scammed, shot, put in jail, etc)....    I would be lying if I said we were not worried one single bit.  We've seen the media stories and it does make us a little nervous, but....  We've done the research and we are going to be careful.  There are plenty of bad things that can happen around the U.S. as well.  I was in East St. Louis for work earlier this year.  It probably has received worse media reports than Mexico....

I believe that while a lot of the fear of Mexico may be justified, a lot can also attributed to the fear of the unfamiliar.  For instance, there is a location in Kansas City where every weekend you can witness literally dozens of fights break out, illegal drug use, multitudes of inebriated people, multiple police arrest, and in fact two murders in the past year.  Sound like a place to avoid?  Still, I bet most of us wouldn't  pass on tickets to the Chiefs/Bronco's game.