Cape to Milan

Let’s face it: we’re junkies for a good old border crossing. Whether it’s stopping off in Monaco for a couple frustrating hours or crossing into Kosovo just because, border crossing excursions–even rather pointless ones–are for some reason always on our list. This (also rather pointless) jaunt to Nogales, Sonora, just 60 miles from Tucson seemed like no exception.

Can you guess which side is which?

Vamos a México!

Ahh, the border. The other side of the border.

Despite its reputation for all sorts of border mayhem–tunnels under the border, narco-violence, and so on–Central Nogales has an almost sleepy feel. Except, of course, for the onslaught of border touts who offer any number of amusing propositions (“Hey amigos, I don’t know how open-minded you are, but…”).

The last train station in Mexico.

The cathedral on the square.

Hidden down a sidestreet within a couple hundred feet of the border, La Roca is Nogales’ go-to restaurant. I went to Nogales with my family several years ago and my dad told me about this place, but we couldn’t find it. Well, this time I was determined to find out what I was missing.

The place is set in a gorgeous Spanish-style house that happens to be built into the side of a rock face (hence the name)…

…but it’s the food that really makes this place special. I had a fantastic chicken molé and tortilla soup.

Delicioso!