Finally made it to the checkpoint. It was somewhat disappointing. The CBP officer who checked our car was...in my opinion...not motivated or professional. We could have had a carload of drugs, illegal aliens or terrorists...and he just waived us through. Though my friend Larry and I are gringos...we had Carlos and his friend in the back seat. They never even asked them any questions, let alone check their residency documents. All the women rode in a separate car. They were just waived in too...and they were all Latinas.  

Just about there. A CBP officer awaits inside the booth. 

Here we are driving along the border fence in Mexicali headed to the border checkpoint to go back into Calexico, California. It was very busy and took almost an hour just to get to the booths.  

The elementary school where Aide and Nora went. According to Aide, it looks exactly the same...the paint, the rotting roof...all of it. Nice to see Mexico is pumping so much money into education LOL!  

Twenty years after the family of my friends' wife left Mexicali, this is what their old house now looks like. It has really gone into a state of disrepair and seems to be used mainly to store car parts. His wife assured us that when they were there, there was grass, flowers and it was very well maintained. I suppose it is amazing that it is standing at all. The same neighbors they had 20 years earlier, were still there. We visited them that day.  

If you look closely to the left, you can see the sign of the PRI. The PRI, the Revolutionary Institutional Party, is the largest political party in Mexico. It had held power for almost 70 years, until Presidente Fox was elected.  

My friend's wife, Aide, is on the left...next is her sister, Nora...then their nephew Carlos...and his friend Christian. He is from Costa Rica. They are standing near a canal by the house they grew up at.  

My friend, Larry, whom I worked with starting in 1992 in the INS.  

This is the view out of my Window. You can see the bullfighting stadium in the center.  

This is the Crown Plaza Hotel we stayed in at Mexicali, BC. It was nice enough, but not really worth what it cost to stay there each night. Good thing it was just for one night, I went with my friend's inlaws...nice people...they grew up in Mexicali and wanted to see what it looked like after 20 years.  

So much hate in this world!!!!

I suppose I should not be surprised. It amazes me just how long some people can hold in hatred. I just receved an email from a gentleman whom I ran across on a CBP forum. All I did was ask him if he could relay a message to a classmate, Nancy S., asking if I could get a copy of the graduation photograph from the FLETC. Mine were lost in a fire at a storage building. We both attended the same class in 1992. She apparently was very negative at the request...and according to the messenger...very firm.

Why do some people have to be like that? Out of all the people at the FLETC course only I suffered the consequences of what happened there. Only I lost my career and my love. Only I lost everything. I don't understand why she still habors so much virulent hatred. Out of all the people at that place...I have the most reasons to be bitter and vengeful...but I am not! I have never held any of the people there in contempt and hatred. Life is way too short to be filled with so much rage after nearly 15 years have passed. But I guess some people are just like that.

No wonder the world is in constant tumoil...and wars continue to be waged. No wonder crime is rampant...and people starve. Humanity is not ready for heaven...so long as some people can never forgive. It saddens me to no end.

Sigh.........

After the matador makes a good kill...the bull last only a few minutes before succumbing to the fatal wound. Afterwards...another person may shoot the bull in the head...just to make sure it is dead. The animal is then butchered and eaten. It is a gruesome scene to watch. If you are skiddish...you probably would not like it. I was amazed at how many women were watching and cheering this bullfight.  

This time the matador was successfull. You can see the handle of the sword just sticking out of the bull's back. The goal is to punture the heart.  

On this side view you can see the sword sticking out of the bull's back. When successfull, the sword is all way in up to the handle. This sword fell out shortly after this pic. 

This matador just attempted a kill shot by ramming the sword straight down between the bulls shoulder blades. He was not successfull on this attempt as the sword did not go all the way in. The matador will get another sword and try again.  

The matador is getting ready for the kill shot. He has already gotten his new sword and will approach the bull with his sword held out about 3 times...walking right up to its head.  

Bullfight at Mexicali, BC, Mexico. In case you have never seen a bullfight before...this is what really happens at one. Notice the picadors sticking out of the back. The matador must set 3 pairs of them in the back, without them falling out, to get maximum points. This weakens the bull and after about 10 minutes...the bull is quite tired. Notice the amount of bleeding. You can see a sword the matador is holding behind the cape. This is not the sword he uses to make the kill. When he is ready...he will get a new sword.