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Great for a Day Trip and 40 to 60% Savings on Health & Dental Care
Since January, 2009, Nogales, Sonora, Mexico has under gone a phenomenal change that has revived its' value as a secure, safe, day trip tourist Mecca. The walking entry from downtown Nogales, Arizona has been transformed from busy, dirty, crowed street lined with taxis to a bustling wide open brick paved, trees lined plaza with benches, shops, coffee caf, food venders, dentist offices and pharmacies.
Another plaza, Ochoa Street Plaza, has just been completed, about 1-1/2 blocks away, starting between the historic Parroquia La Pursima Concepcin Catholic Church, built in 1891, and the food vendor Plaza. It is two blocks long and ends on Obregon Avenue. Besides the food pavilion, the plaza connects to a line of stalls offering all kinds of handcrafts, sliver, blankets, pottery, furniture and sculptures.
There have been some concerns about security in Nogales; in fact the U.S. State Department issued a Travel Alert in December which should expire this August. The fact is; there were some problems with the drug cartels, but the President of Mexico sent in about 200 army personnel and the Governor sent in reinforcements from the State Police. This decisive action put a halt on the drug cartel violence; in fact there have been no reports of violence in Nogales, MX in the U.S. media since the middle of December.
There was never any violence in the tourist areas, nor were any American tourists ever involved.
The first new Plaza was just barely completed and plans were initiated for special weekly events when the Swine Flu problem cast a shadow on those plans (there was only one case reported in the State of Sonora.)
The city leaders have now resumed those plans and will have different functions like tequila, Mexican beers & wines tasting, Made-in-Mexico crafts (not imported from China,) food tasting fairs with samples from local restaurants. In addition, of course, Mariachi bands with dancers and puppet shows for the kids. The idea is something new and different every week.
Although a few businesses have closed due to the local economical situation, many have used the slow period to renovate space into new restaurants; some dentists have updated and/or expanded their space to accommodate new equipment and patients; a new high tech medical spa (equal to any in Arizona) was opened. The overall economical situation has brought down all the prices to below bargain pricing in the whole tourist and medical areas.
The tourists have started to return to Nogales for day trips. Most initially come for the savings in dental and health care and end up staying a few more hours shopping for bargains and the great Mexican cuisine. Some have even extended their trip by staying in one of the new hotels in Nogales, Arizona, both the Holiday Inn Express and the Candlewood Suites are now open.
Besides Arizona, visitors are coming from New York, Alaska, Florida, California, Colorado-all over the United States and Canada. Many use their Frequent Flyer miles to really make their health or dental care trip worthwhile. The dental and health care in Nogales, Mexico is highly regulated and a large number of doctors and dentists have joined together to provide relative information about themselves and their practices in a simple directory. Credentials and photographs of their staffs, offices and equipment are provided along with direct contact telephone numbers and email addresses. Just Google "Nogales Dentist" or "Nogales Doctor".
The revitalization of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico is supported by the locals, the stall operators, the merchants, the restaurant owners, the professional people, city government, state government and the president of Mexico.
Nogales value to the United States Citizen is the low cost health and dental care. USA Quality, Professional Care with the same equipment and sanitation at an astounding 40 to 60% below US prices. Most providers accept US insurance. And, of course, an entertaining, low cost diversion to daily life.
It is not a resort destination full of high priced hotels, food, and activities; it is simply a quick, inexpensive get-away distraction for a day or two. It is a place that Americans feel warmly welcomed and sincerely appreciated.
Some Additional Photographs of Nogales Sonora Mexico Medical & Dental Office Building, Tourist Photo Stop, Mexican Crafts for Sale, Busy Street Corner by Border, Ochoa Street Plaza, The Oldest Saloon In Nogales, are available at http://mexicandoctorsdir.com/el_nuevo_nogales_sonora_mexico.html
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phenomenal change that has revived its' value as a secure, safe, day trip tourist Mecca. The walking entry from downtown Nogales, Arizona has been transformed from busy, dirty, crowed street lined with taxis to a bustling wide open brick paved, trees lined plaza with benches, shops, coffee caf, food venders, dentist offices and pharmacies.
1891, and the food vendor Plaza. It is two blocks long and ends on Obregon Avenue. Besides the food pavilion, the plaza connects to a line of stalls offering all kinds of handcrafts, sliver, blankets, pottery, furniture and sculptures.