Well, things changed dramatically once I crossed the border into South Carolina. At the state line there was an unusual tourist area called "South of the Border". It featured a tall observation tower with a sombrero on top, that could be seem for miles. And of course, there had been plenty of billboards along the highway to let drivers know that this kooky little paradise was coming.

Mostly, this wide spot in the road consisted of trinket shops, arcades, cafes and motels, peppered with outlandish roadside murals and sculptures. There were loads of crazy characters with a Mexican border town theme. Off in the outskirts one could find plenty of massage parlors.