"MOLAR CITY"

    The border crossing at Los Algodones, Mexico (near Yuma). 

"Algodon" means cotton in Spanish.  Los Algodones (The Cottons) attests to the town's past when it was a large cotton producing area.  But no more....now it is known for is Dental Care...as well as Eye Care and cheap prescription meds.   Many Americans and Canadians who winter in nearby Yuma come here for their dental work, their eye exams and eye glasses, etc.  And while here they have a nice Mexican lunch and maybe pick up a trinket or two.

Signs for dental work are everywhere...and sometimes you even see the dentist himself handing out business cards on the sidewalk between appointments!

We came here so I could get my teeth cleaned by Dr. Eva Urena, pictured here with her assistant, Monica.  She is very competent and cleaned my teeth for...are you ready for this...$35!

The dentists here do more than just cleaning....they will fix cavities, whiten teeth, some do root canals and others (including Dr Eva) do implants.   While I was in the dental chair Pam spoke with a man from Alberta Canada in the waiting room who was sporting good looking new dentures...that had been ordered and made and fitted all the day before!  (No waiting for weeks on end for new dentures...and for considerably less "dinero" than either in the US or Canada).

Dr Eva has her offices in one of the more attractive spots we came across.....here is Pam in the courtyard with the dental offices behind and to the right.  (Who wouldn't want a courtyard like this one!!!).

So while dental work dominates the border section of Los Algodones, Pam also found a reputable eye care facility and came away with a nice pair of "prescription readers" for considerably less money.  The facility "read" her prescription from her glasses and had the new ones made while we were at lunch....total wait time less than 3 hours!

While we sat on a corner bench after lunch watching "los algodones and its world go by" we saw this cute little "chica" and her Mom.  She sure was a head turner!!

If Los Algodones has a downside it is the street vendors.  Everywhere you walk they are out there "hawking" their souvenirs.  You have to remind yourself to be patient and that "this is what they do" to get by.  Of course, many of them use their children or their older residents to make it harder for you to say no....like this woman

      Little "old lady" eating her lunch while hawking baskets.

We enjoyed the experience that Molar City offers up....and we will go back when in the area to take advantage of the much cheaper prices for dental work, eye care and prescription meds (and no, you do not have to have a prescription...all but control drugs are over the counter).   Hasta Luega, Algodones!