Discover Baja Physical Office Closing
The physical San Diego office of Discover Baja will be closing in March. For the last four years, 95% of our work with you has been over the phone or via computer with our office open for limited hours. Now our office complex is “repurposing” our space—translation: “demolishing it to build a restaurant.” It seems the perfect time to make a change. In March we will give up our office space and work solely from our homes. We will still be providing all the same Baja services you need: insurance, fishing licenses, TIPs, information, discounts, reservation help, sale of books, maps and clothing and anything else you ask of us. Give us time and we can always put insurances, licenses or other purchases in the mail.
Here’s what you can do:
* Start using our new PO Box for mail: PO Box 122007, Chula Vista, CA 91912
* SAVE THE DATE—Saturday March 9th from 1 to 4 pm. We have 32 years of books, photographs, Baja memorabilia and even some office furniture and furnishings that we’d like to share with our members. We’ll have some items for sale at very discounted prices and others will be give-aways. We hope to see you all there.
Motorhome TIPs
Discover Baja is pleased to announce that we can now process Temporary Importation Permits (TIPs) for motorhomes for members. Motorhome TIPs are not necessary for travel in Baja but are required for travel in mainland Mexico and are required in Baja if you are storing your motorhome or travel trailer in a public storage unit. You can find the application for the Motorhome TIP here.
Save the Date: Jennifer Silva Redmond Online Book Lecture on March 21
Please save the evening of Thursday, March 21st for a very special Discover Baja Zoom lecture featuring Jennifer Silva Redmond talking about her new memoir, Honeymoon at Sea: How I Found Myself Living on a Small Boat. When Jennifer and Russel Redmond got married in 1989, they made a decision to spend their honeymoon at sea, sailing to and around Baja California’s Sea of Cortez. The voyage tested their new relationship, not just with storms and bad weather, but in all the ways that living on a twenty-six-foot sailboat make one reconsider what’s truly important. In witty insightful prose, Jennifer recounts that first year, moving back and forth with the currents of her life. Her unique experience on the boat weaves through time as she explores the events that lead to taking her first step onto Watchfire, from her bohemian 1960s childhood in Southern California to her years in NYC. Please stay tuned for more information about this special online book lecture, and in the meantime, read more about Honeymoon at Sea.
Online FMM Update
Be aware that the Mexican government website for FMMs has not been functioning correctly. People trying to get FMMs are getting double charged and not receiving their FMMs. We recommend that you stop at the border on your way into Mexico to get your FMMs in person.
Tijuana Museums Participating in San Diego Museum Month
For the first time, Tijuana museums are participating in San Diego’s Museum Month where for the month of February, museum admission is half off. For a list of the Tijuana museums participating and for more information, please visit the San Diego Museum website.
U.S. Citizens Voting Abroad
This is a U.S. presidential election year and it’s important that you vote. Follow a few simple steps to ensure you can vote in the 2024 federal U.S. elections while living abroad:
1. Request your ballot. Complete a new Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). You must complete a new FPCA after January 1, 2024 to ensure you receive your ballot for the 2024 elections. Submitting the FPCA allows you to request absentee ballots for all elections for federal offices (President, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House of Representatives) including primaries and special elections during the calendar year in which it is submitted. The online voting assistant will tell you if your state allows the FPCA to be returned electronically or if you must submit a paper copy with original ink signature. If you must return a paper version, please follow the same instructions below for returning your ballot.
2. Receive and complete your ballot. States are required to send out ballots 45 days before a regular election for federal office and generally send ballots at least 30 days before primary elections. For most states, you can confirm your registration and ballot delivery online.
3. Return your completed ballot. While some states allow you to return your completed ballot electronically, others do not. If your state requires you to return paper voting forms or ballots to local election officials, you can do so free of charge at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate Monday through Friday, except holidays. Please note the Tijuana Consulate’s voting material drop off hours below. Place your ballot in a postage-paid return envelope or in an envelope bearing sufficient domestic U.S. postage and address it to the relevant local election officials.
U.S. Consulate General Tijuana
Voting material drop off hours: 8:00 am – 10:00 am
Paseo de las Culturas s/n, Mesa de Otay
22425 Tijuana, Baja California
Tel. From Mexico: 664 977 2000
Tel. From U.S.: 011 52 664 977 2000
You can also return your FPCA or ballot to your local election officials via international mail or professional courier service at your own expense.