Molar City, Mexico

Just a few miles from Yuma is a border crossing into the city of Los Algodones, Mexico. Los Algodones has come to be known by some as "Molar City" because thousands of Canadians and Americans flock there to receive affordable dental care every year. The city contains somewhere between 600 and 900 dentists and more than 300 dental clinics. We went there this past weekend so Alvin could get some dental work done. It was my first time in Mexico and it was quite an experience, to say the least.

We arrived at the border and parked in an expansive parking lot on the California side before unpacking the stroller and loading the boys up. It is amazing how easy it is to get into Mexico. We simply walked down a sidewalk, through a turnstile, and straight into Mexico. There were no guards and no-one checking passports or IDs. Upon crossing the border, we were immediately bombarded with people trying to sell us things or trying to get us to go to their dental clinic or pharmacy. 

The streets in Mexico are narrow and crowded. The sidewalks are lined with vendors selling blankets, clothing, jewelry, knickknacks, and face masks. Behind the vendors sit building after building, almost all of which are either a dental clinic or a pharmacy. Alvin went to a clinic that was quite swanky looking compared to some of the others just a block or so from the border. Due to Covid, the boys and I were not allowed to wait in the clinic so I found myself alone on the streets of Mexico with my toddlers for what turned out to be several hours due to the extensive dental work Alvin ended up needing. This was a position I certainly did not anticipate, nor did I appreciate finding myself in! The dentists assured me that Los Algodones is very safe due to all the border police and that I had nothing to fear. I wasn't entirely convinced and had I known how long they would end up taking I think I would have told everyone to forget about dental work for the day!

I spent as much time as possible in a little coffee shop right beside the clinic Alvin was in but whenever the boys would get restless we would head out for another dusty trek through the streets. I made sure I stayed within a couple blocks of the border and only walked in the crowded tourist areas. We got lunch from a street vendor and fed our scraps to the pigeons, much to the boys' delight. 

 I bought the boys little hats to keep the hot sun off of them. Liam spent much of the time riding perched on the cupholder of Luca's stroller and was quite a hit with the locals when he wore his hat. We heard "Heeey!!! Cowboy!!!" so many times throughout the day. Walking up and down dusty streets with two toddlers for hours is one thing, but doing it while being accosted by a never ending barrage of vendors is another thing entirely. Needless to say, by the time Alvin was done getting his teeth done I was utterly exhausted and maybe just a little grumpy. It was certainly an adventure but one I hope never to repeat. Don't get me wrong, I would enjoy going back to Mexico and seeing the sights, I just hope next time to keep my hubby close and not have to do it alone! 

The Los Algodones border closes at 2PM. The dentists assured us beforehand that they would be done with Alvin's teeth with plenty of time to spare. Their definition of "plenty" is different from mine and he finished just in time for us to make a dash for the border before it closed. Getting back across the border was a little more complex than getting into Mexico. We had to show our passports and declare any items we bought before winding our way through a series of fenced walkways and back into California. Alvin was in severe pain from the work he had done so we headed back home and spent the rest of the day recuperating. Alvin from his dental work and me from a rather stressful day in Mexico.

I look forward to seeing more of Mexico. It is a very vibrant place with lots of good food and so much bright and beautiful artwork. I only hope that next time we will all be able to enjoy the experience a little more!