Rocky Point Roaches.....

OK, I am going to take a break from my China talk, to talk Mexico for a minute.  We have a full schedule between J's work trips and our upcoming trip to Thailand.  With that said, we are trying to book something relatively easy for a spring break, break!

Here's the thing,  I love California, but I hate to be cold, so really,  March there doesn't work for me.    So Mexico: warmer water, beautiful condos and houses, you can drive there, its close, all this makes it relatively easy to me.

But here's where my Nervous Mom Issues kick in!  I'm going to say maybe 10 years back we rented a house in Rocky Point.  A big, beautiful home on the ocean where we could invite our entire family to stay and the price was a screaming deal.  This was back before all the security issues with traveling to Mexico really hit the news, or maybe just before I watched the news and knew about them.  We packed our food, because I knew I would not eat theirs, grabbed our swim suits and headed out for 2 weeks of sun!

The first week we were going to have my family stay with us, and the second week have J's family stay with us.  The subject of traveling with family I will write about in another post, because it has issues all of its own worth blogging about.

Mexico, on the other hand topped any family situation with the arrival of my family to the beautiful, ocean front home, filled with Roaches!!
(I need you to understand that when I say filled with Roaches I really mean filled with Roaches!!)

Roach Heaven...

To start, I hate the food.  I remember going there in high school and literally starving because I wasn't smart enough to take my own food, and not adventurous enough to try the tacos that had hunks of meat that I was sure was dog!  I chose instead to beg for cheese filled hot dogs that someone else had brought (if this was my situation today I think I would have found grass or sea weed to eat before I would eat cheese filled hot dogs!).

This High School memory was not my finest moment, and not going to happen again.  I was prepared.  I knew J would eat all the street tacos he could get his hands on, and I knew, I would eat the spaghetti I had made myself.

Taking the food issue out of the equation I thought this trip was going to be Amazing!  (insert high pitched Amazing voice)  At this time we had a 1 year old, a 5 year old, and an 8 yr old.  Family that was traveling with us had kids of similar ages, and so playmates for everyone!  I was excited for all the memories we would create together!

We arrived at the house and got settled in.  I do not remember why, but J chose the room where we were going to sleep, and for some reason I was not happy about it.  I, with age am learning to handle situations better, but back then, I am sure I let him have it for going against my desire in room choice!

Loved my B's hair in braids.

Within hours of arrival, and settling in, we spotted our first cockroach!  I was extremely unhappy about this, but became the most unhappy when in the middle of the night, J felt something crawling on him and brushed it off right onto me!!!!!!  

Great room choice, J!!

If you have seen me react to bugs, you have a good picture of what is going down.  I have a great, high pitched, loud girl scream and I used it!!!   I'm sure the roach wishes it would not have found me, and I continue to wish it hadn't touched me, but the damage was done.  Crazily, I stood with my baby, in the middle of the family room, watching my other children sleep to prevent bugs crawling on them the rest of the night.  To make matters worse, if I did see a roach I proceeded to scream that girl scream I had mastered over the years, making every ones night really long and loud!!
I wanted to pack the car and abandon the trip.  I didn't care if family was flying in, I was leaving!!!

This is where J steps in and tells me I am not leaving my family, and need to figure out how to calm down.

The rest of the trip is a blur!!! I am sure we had moments of fun but all I remember is the roaches!!

And, side note,  I do remember the random electrical blackouts that occurred everyday that you could do nothing about but wait for it to come back on, hoping it would come back on!!!

So here comes my 1st Rocky Point advice,   Ask Questions!!!  Even the weird ones, like do you have roaches running freely in your home and random electrical blackouts?

Ocean and a pool table, in theory Paradise!

I have called the owners of several homes who have clarified that most homes have roaches.  "It's Rocky Point they say, you cannot avoid them."  I have not had one tell me their home would be roach free and so no matter how great a deal, or nice the home is, I am out.  Homes with lots of bugs are not for me.

Unfortunately, I still really want to go to Rocky Point, although as I write this I am wondering why????   I guess a maintained hotel is my next alternative to a house on the beach.

I have narrowed it down by several people telling me the "Sonoran Sun",  is my best option due to required monthly pest control.  I am hoping this is right, and we will be roach free!

I am still leery of driving in Mexico, and leery of the bugs, and food, and doctor offices, but in the spirit of adventure am willing to try this again!

(this same roach trip one of our family members busted his face on some rocks in the ocean, and had to seek medical care.  J told me there was blood all over the walls of the doctors office, YUCK, and hopefully I am never going there!!)

2nd, check with the hotel for security practices and if there is medical doctors available on site.  My youngest has had several health issues over his life so this is extremely important to me!  (Again, another blog post that will dive into traveling with a child that has extra needs.  It takes effort but can be done!)

My little K, sun screening up for a day on the beach.

3rd, don't forget insurance for your vehicles.  You can buy it online or at most convenience stores on the way out of the US.

4th,  check the latest citizenship requirements for you and your family, because you don't want to stay forever! (Last checked everyone under 16 only needed a birth certificate, but everyone over 16 needed a passport)

5th,  Plan your food, either take it, know the restaurants on property of where you are staying, or plan to eat some street tacos, which J swears are delicious.  Try not to resort to begging your neighbors for food, although if it is me, I will share!

6th, and really the most important, remember to think smart, be safe, check travel advisories, know any language terms you may need, and let family or friends know your travel schedule and accommodations while you are there.

If you are prepared, hopefully some of the nervousness will subside,  and if you have roaches, you won't die, but for sure, let me know, so I don't stay where you did!!!!!

I would love any tips you have regarding Rocky Point.  Everyone I talk to says its safe as can be, but when you are a Nervous Mom, you can find things to worry about.

I am excited for the warmish water, (62-65 degrees) and the sun (in the 80's), and to a roach free condo!!!

Fingers crossed......

2006, The Year of the Roach...