I left Reno on a 9am flight through Southwest Airlines. Had to pass through Oakland but I got to stay on my plane. Southwest has no direct service to San Diego, so all flights are either with stops or plane changes. So on both ways I was in a flight that had me stay on the plane but I had one-stop. I arrived in San Diego by about 1145am and was in my cab to the border by noon. I chose the cab because of pure laziness. Had the driver agree to 40 dollar flat-rate to the border. He wasn't too happy about it because it costs about 45 on the meter, but there were several other cabs there that were willing to take my offer. Before I got to the border, I stopped at the bank and took out 500 bucks. I wanted to make sure that I had the right amount of funding to make sure I had a good time.
Crossed the border. Had no problems there. No asshole Mexican Border guy telling me to press the button to pass by like I have experienced in the past. In fact, there wasn't anyone there this time. I avoided going to the Yellow Cab stand that is straight ahead, I went to the right and walked towards the McDonalds. You can't miss it. Once you get out the gates and you are greeted by the line of Yellow Cab cabbies barking at you to come in their cabs. Ignore them. Keep walking across the street. Walk past the Pharmacy and the McDonald's. Keep walking until you see the Taxi Libre stand. You have to pass the gauntlet of barkers, street venders, and street people. There you will find a good deal in terms of price of taxi. When I get to the stand and take my cab, I always say, "con meter por favor". It means, with meter please. Be firm and polite. I take the cab to my haunt. La Villa Zaragoza Hotel at 7th and Madero. For this weekend, I got my decent and safe room for 49 dollars a night. For two nights, Friday and Satuday night I was able to get a room quite easily. The cost of the taxi is under 27 pesos (approximately $2.70). Give them 3 bucks. Most of the Tijuana inhabitants like to round the exchange rate to the nearest peso and in their favor. The exchange rate is about 10.3 or 10.4. But they want to have it be 10 pesos to the dollar. I give it to them. I consider it their tip.
I get to the hotel and I get a standard room with a king-sized bed. When I get to room I crash. I was tired from a long week of work and being sick. I was getting over some flu or something. Later in the day. about 3 pm, I make a huge mistake. I asked the front desk guy at the hotel to help me find a driver to take me shopping somewhere where I wouldn't get the gringo prices. He points his finger at a guy that was loitering in the small lobby of the hotel and tells him to bring me to some shopping place out of the area. At this time, I was very tired and I wasn't really thinking straight. I told the guy I am not sure what I really want to do but can I hire you for couple hours for driving me where I want to go. He lit up and said sure. By this time we were already driving. I asked him how much will it cost me for a couple hours. He told me 50 bucks! I felt like such an idiot. I told the guy that that was too much. Then I told the guy 40 for two hours. Retarded! (I should have gotten a Taxi Libre con meter) That was my mistake.
I decided not to go shopping after all. I decided that I wanted to see the beach of Tijuana. I went down there and saw some pretty cool things. Once I was there, I got to see the border along the beach. There isn't a fence blocking the whole beach. There is a fence that goes halfway across the beach though. I walked down there and looked to see if I could walk across the beach border. I noticed that there was a border patrol guy sitting in his jeep up top of the hill on the US side. I got to have a little fun by jumping back and forth from the US side to the Mexican side. After I had enough of that, I walked down the beach looked at all the beat up and ugly buildings that are there. I don't understand why they don't develope this area and make something good out of it. It's just a freakin mess down there. After the beach stroll, I got back into my driver's car and head back into town. Then I went back to bed and slept.
The next day, I made a decision to have some fun. So what did I do? I decided to walk around. I walked to Revolution which is only a block from the hotel. Walked up and down the street. Up to the CaliMex grocery store, down to 2nd Street. I forget the name. All of these streets have names, but they are also given a number for reasons that I am not sure of. Things that I noticed while walking the streets. The police, the police, the police. I was seeing the police driving up and down the streets. Sometimes at very high speeds chasing God knows what. I have to say, I never had any trouble with them. I am a male in my late 30's, white, clean cut, without anything extravagant on my person. They didn't even look at me. Other things that I noticed were street vendors. They are very practiced and persistent. Never make eye contact with them because they will chase you. Insult you. Anything to get you to give them your attention. Just don't give it to them.
There is some good news. I did find something that tasted very good on the strip. At the Aztec Massage entrance, there is a stand that sells Churros. Very delicious. Costs 50 cents. Probably 5 pesos. Check it out. By the way. On past trips I have used the Aztec Massage for a good real massage. The price was 25 bucks. These girls have good hands and can melt away your stress in a session. I highly recommend it. (Sorry, no sex offered there)
On to the night. I went to Peanuts and Beer strip club. Not a bad value. I wanted to try something completely different from all my previous trips. I have been a Adelitas and Chicago Club guy, but I wanted to try something different this trip. When you get there it is a little intimadating. You are confronted with the barker in the front. Don't let this bother you. They will bring you in and find you a seat in the club and bring your first drink. I played it graciously and gave the guy a buck tip for bringing me my 4 dollar beer. I got my seat right at "sniff row". Right at the rail. I like the rail because I can nurse my beer and have a front row vaneforum.xxxe point of the action on the main seforum.xxxe. I got there about 10pm on Saturday and the place was packed. Another benefit of sniff row is that you have a good excuse not to take the girls to the private room. You can just point at the floor and say "esta bien". One can make their dollar stretch in this place good. There isn't a cover charge. Only a 4 dollar drink. Now. The ladies in this place were looking pretty good. I think they looked better than any of the ladies in Adelitas or Chicago Club for the most part. The bodies were smokin hot. The faces were, well, I dunno. Wasn't looking there. I spent 3 hours in there and I spent about 50 bucks total. I was buzzing pretty good and I got more ass than a toliet seat. By the way, there isn't a no-touching policy. That meant hands were all over the ladies. I had an excellent time in there and I recommend this place. Just remember to not get too messed up on the beer in there. Just like any Tijuana business. They are out to take you for whatever you will allow them to take. Have your guard up all the time. Never trust anyone. Word of warning.
After I left Peanuts and Beer, I jumped in a cab and went to Chicago Club. Jesus F'n Christ! This place was very, very busy. Wall to wall people. I looked around and left. Walked to the alley and checked out the ladies. As I walked by, they kept beckoning me with a "ch-ch-ch-ch-ch" sound. Like a rattlesnake. I got a kick out of that. I talked to couple them. They were cute, but none of them struck my fancy for some reason. I guess I wasn't interested in having relations that night. I'm probably a homo. Not!
Walked into the Hong Kong Bar. They made me pay for a beer before entering. Walked in. Wall to wall dudes and a few women. I walked in, took a few swigs of the Tecate. and then left. I wasn't impressed with what I saw in there. Probably all the hotties that have been spoken about were "busy".
Left the bar and went around the block to the entrance of Adelitas. Same story with Adelitas. Wall to wall humanity. I walked in, walked out. Jumped into a cab and headed back to Peanuts and Beer. I spent about a half hour there and decided to call it the night. I didn't get any. I was okay with it.
Went to bed around 4 am and got up around 11am. I checked out of my room. One thing to note is that I used the hotel's security box for my wallet, keys, and excess dollars. In the four times I have stay at this particular hotel, I have never had anything stolen from me in my room or in my deposit box.
I had a 735pm flight, and I had to kill a few hours in TJ. I decided to walk around again. I ate a Burger King. Watched some football at the Caliente sportsbook by the JaiAlai Palace. After that I hailed a cab to take me down to Adelitas. I wanted to see what it was like on a Sunday afternoon. I get there and it was wall to wall humanity again. I walk out. I walk to Peanuts and Beer and see what is happening up there. The place is empty. I see only about 4 girls working in the whole place. There is one hottie in there and I get a private dance with her and I had a good time. Total touching in the curtained cubical. There was so much touching allowed that the girl was frustrated that I didn't touch her pussy enough. She would press my fingers inside of her. I got the hint and gave her a pussy exam. All for 30 bucks for 3 songs. (Long songs) Not bad. After that, I head back to the hotel to get my things from the office and go to the border. There was a huge line, but it moved quickly. Took about 35 minutes. When I get to the officer, he asks, "country of citizenship?" Also he says, "did you bring anything back?" A breeze. Run my bags through the x-ray machine. I am in America! I take the trolley to downtown and catch a cab to the airport.
Conclusion:
Tijuana is Mexican hell. Now. Let me say that hell has some benefits. Hot chicks. Interesting people. Never a dull moment. But there is the bad things. The Cops. The Bandits. The Vendors. The Danger. I was in constant fear every moment I was there. The thought that you can be tossed in jail and not have a chance to get out. The thought that someone could steal your things and you can't really defend yourself because you will be judged against because you are in someone else's country with no real rights. With that thought in mind, I will still come here. I am in the hope of going to a better venue though. I have been to Dominican Republic and that was an experience way different than what I had in Tijuana. Tijuana is a circus like atmosphere with a lot of lawlessness. Dominican Republic has better laws to protect the tourist. It seems to me the law is to exploit tourists in Tijuana. Just remember to not trust too much when in TJ. You need to know what you can before you decide to come down. Knowledge is power and this board is a good start to learn to stay safe down there. The danger down there is real. I recommend taking steps to make sure you are covered. The La Villa Zaragoza is a good hotel. But even they will exploit you just to chizel a buck out of you. Use the Taxi Libres with the meters. Get the money you need on the USA side. Play it smart.