RANCHO CUCAMONGA ROTARY CLUB

MEXICALI SCHOOL SUPPLY DISTRIBUTION

We will be leaving from the Etiwanda Gardens rear parking lot on Thursday, September 8, 2011 at 2:30 PM to arrive at the Hotel Siesta Real in Mexicali about 6:00 PM. We will have dinner Thursday night with the Mexicali club probably at a great Chinese Restaurant. On Friday, September 9, we will distribute the school supplies directly to the children at the schools. Friday night we usually have a dinner at the home of one of the Mexicali Rotarians. We will be returning to Rancho Cucamonga on Saturday, September 10. Mike Mitchell has room in his car for 7 other people if anybody wants to ride with him. Inform Mike Mitchell (909.224.8226 or mike@gyldecauwer.com) if you are going and if you want to ride with him. He needs to give a head count to the Mexicali club.

RESERVATIONS AT HOTEL SIESTA REAL

Make your reservations online at www.hotelsiestareal.com or by telephone at 1-800-426-5093 or 011-52-686-568-2001(international call). Be sure to request an executive room for 2 nights.

DIRECTIONS TO HOTEL SIESTA REAL

Take I-10 East about 30 miles past Palm Springs to Indio, exit I-10 at the signs for 86S EXPRESSWAY FOR BRAWLEY AND EL CENTRO. Take Hwy 86S for about 58 miles to the town of Westmoreland.  Turn right at the first stop sign/traffic light (Center Rd in Westmoreland-Forrester Rd returning. Be sure to remember to exit I-8 at Forrester Rd on the return trip) and continue for 17 miles to Interstate 8.  Take I-8 east about 7 miles and exit at the sign for Calexico/Mexicali/International Border.  You will be on Hwy 111 going South.

Calexico is about 5 miles south of I-8.  If you need gas, insurance, or pesos you can get it there.  You will not need pesos where you are going as they respect green.  Car insurance can be bought at IV Sportsmart, across the street from McDonalds (open 8am till 11pm), or at Padillas, a block before IV Sportsmart (open 6am till midnight).  You will need your registration to get insurance.

As you cross the border, go slowly through the automobile area and wait for the light to turn green or red. If the light turns green, proceed through and cross the border. If the light turns red, pull over into the secondary and answer their questions. If you have to go to the secondary, they are looking for smuggled in goods, lumber, building materials, weapons, etc. At the first intersection (100 yards from the border) you will have three choices: angle right, go straight, or hard right.  You should go straight and follow the signs for the AEROPUERTO.

You will now be on Madera, which is a one way street going East. Pretty soon you will come to cross streets named Calle A, Calle B, Calle C, etc. After the “ALTO” sign at Calle K, you will come to an intersection with a traffic signal, a Corona Beer Distributor on the Northwest corner and an Oxxo store on the Southeast corner. This is Justo Sierra. Turn right onto Justo Sierra. (There are Oxxo stores everywhere in Mexicali. They are like a 7-11 or AM/PM).

Proceed South on Justo Sierra. Hotel Siesta Real is on the left a little past an intersection where there is a Carls Jr. Pass the hotel and at the next opportunity make a U turn and return North to enter the hotel.

DON’T FORGET TO BRING YOUR PASSPORT!!!