Frankfurt to Puerto Escondido

We have already been on our boat in Mexico for two weeks and there is much to report. The preparations to leave were a complex mixture of keen anticipation and intimidation by bureaucracy.
In our first post, we mentioned that we met with Richard and Connie, the previous owners of the boat, in Frankfurt. This was like putting the first few pieces of a jigsaw puzzle together. While Renate spent time with her family in Frankfurt, Martin had plenty of time to research travel regulations for the US and Mexico and the registration and documentation requirements for the boat, for example, radio call sign, MMSI number and EPIRB registration. He also admits to playing his new mandolin a lot. He read about boat ownership and use regulations in Mexico, organized our Mexican visas, weighed our luggage several times, and researched how we could reach our connecting flight in Mexico, Tijuana, from San Diego.  

 

With all sorts of papers and possibly required copies we started our flight on September 23rd; 2019.This was the day that Thomas Cook Airlines went bankrupt. We flew with Condor, the subsidiary airline, which was still allowed to take off. The check in and security checks were easy, we just needed a lot of patience while waiting in queues; which is not Martin’s strong suit. When it came to boarding, the airline was reluctant to allow us to board because we did not have return tickets. Ultimately, we were able to convince them that we were on our way home to New Zealand by private yacht. We made no attempt to enlighten them as to its size. The business class flight was pleasant and comfortable. There were no difficulties encountered with immigration entering the United States at Portland.
The difficulties started in San Diego. We planned to use the "Cross Border Express" pedestrian bridge thinking that it connected Tijuana and San Diego airports. We were completely wrong, they are 21miles apart. We arrived late at night only to discover that the shuttle bus ceases to operate after 9pm. At the airport the information desk we found out that buses and trains would also be impossible. It seemed that the only alternative was a $120 US taxi. Our dilemma was heard by a Ukrainian woman waiting at the information desk. She offered to ask her Mexican driver if he had room for us. After the driver saw us, he agreed to drive us across the border, to the airport, for $80 US. This was a very kind offer. There were absolutely no passport or customs checks as we were driven across the border. The driver asked us when our plane would leave and after telling him that it was not until 9am the next day he offered to drop us off at a hotel near the airport. Thus, we were able to sleep for 6 hours, shower the next morning and then take the hotel shuttle to the airport.

Around noon we landed at the international airport of Loreto, Baja California Sur. Passengers always have to walk to the terminal here. The baggage reclaim hall was equipped with a luggage rack and 3 chairs. There were no controls or anything else. We rented a car and drove 25km to the Marina at Puerto Escondido. We felt the heat intensely.

 What did we think of the boat? Find out in the next post.