Once you hear the jail-cell clang of metal revolving doors closing behind you as you enter Mexico, the first thing you'll see is a pharmacy. Pharmacies are also the second, third and fourth stores you'll see! My experiences with the stores are very positive. In the years I've taken Mexican medicine, I've never had a batch that didn't work, despite the many warnings I've seen to the contrary. Now, I'm not on any medications that I'd DIE without--if you are, you might want to think twice. But their asthma meds heal my asthma, their antibiotics cure my infections, and their rash creams heal my rashes. Plus, the meds work at an affordable price! No matter what you may read about not needing a prescription, you DO. Not to BUY the meds, but to bring them back across the border into the U.S. Don't open your meds and take a dose before you return--you just might get "grilled" about the opened package by the border agents. You can use a U.S. prescription or Mexican Rx--either one. I chose to get my prescriptions from a Mexican doctor, because the charge was only $20 per office visit.

After getting my prescriptions, I would then do a little bit of browsing in the immediate area. The merchandise is a sampling of the same stuff you'll see on Ave. Revolucion--mostly trinkets but also some good-quality blankets, beautiful chess sets, and some nice leather purses, wallets, and belts. Things are sold anywhere and everywhere--from stores to card tables to vendors hand-carrying items right up to your face. Oh, and I always take a bag of cookies when I'm going on weekends or school holidays. That's because when children are around, they'll be trying to sell you something too. I just pass out cookies instead. I'd go broke buying something from each one, and this way they all can have something.