Took trip on Tuesday night. Arrived at border at midnight. Was surprised (nearly shocked) that parking lot was mostly empty. 20% full at best with no real parking lot activity. It has been a year since my last trip.
Little to no comfort in walking across the border in any type of pack. I continue anyway. As I near the gates, a dude comes off the bridge (returning) and we chat for a few minutes. He tells me he was frisked by the police as he exited his taxi returning to the border. Tells me they were looking for drugs, and he was clean with little money left. He tells me that the police activity is keeping people away. He and I agree we have never been bothered by the police before, needless to say, I am on guard for the police. I begin to recall all the advice posted about how to deal with them, and decide that most of it will probably go out the window if I am spread against a car. I conclude that my best posture is to not show scared or intimidation, but am likely to cave for a safe release. (I decide, I probably don't have a lot of rights, and worry about initiating something that will have me in jail for offerring a bribe.) Again, important to hold ones composure I figure and not conclude I have a ready recipe.
I speak briefly about other places to go in the zona and how safe. I would like to try Hong Kongs sometime, but am not ready to venture toward an alley at night I'm unfamiliar with. I taxi to Adelitas. The police are obviously out, and stopping cars. When I arrive and go into Adelitas, I make the following quick observations. I don't think I will exceed 3 trips (based on selection, etc) and decide that I won't opt for the nightly rate (as I have used in the past). Secondly, the place has been remodeled. It is flat inside, the ramp in front of DJ and steps opposite side of the room are gone. There is a big dance floor with went largely under utilized (but on this weekday we werent hurting for space). I turn immediately left and make a round that ends with me behind where the hotties stand.
I was more or less sizing up the environment and my comfort level more than scanning the ladies. An enterprising lady, in what seems to be a buyers market, approaches and we spend time together. Eventually we take a booth, but I resist the beckon for more. Deciding to scan the room and select my lady vs a lady selecting me. She is understanding and I do this a bit. Then I decide to walk to Chicago (which I am comfortable doing). Chicago is not alive at all. Plus the setup at Chicago was never right for me, it isn't designed as well to wander and scan. The lady's are not standing so much on display. I return to Adelitas.
A bit more looking and I decide that although I would never have picked her, the one that picked me initially held the most promise. She refused to negotiate the rate however and prefer to stay behind and get nothing vs giving any kind of bargin. I am not sure what "cuts" she needs to provide to others, but I presume she isn't getting much. On the night, I was only offered 1 bargin rate, and the rest would prefer to not go at all.
I was turned off that the ladies could be so stuck on themselves to not try harder. They acted as if it was a sellers market. If they aren't going to work a bit for it, I can't expect anything interesting. I decide to go back to the original and pay the rate and that would be about all. It was too.
Then came the plan to return. Oh, I decided to forego the tip to the cleaning guy. Who followed me all the way out nearly harassing me, and complaining that I should not be allowed to leave without a tip. I figured that would only bite me if I returned with another lady, which I had no plans to do.
I saved the tip for the taxi guy. Who quoted me a lower rate to return to the border than I paid for the trip from. I told him I wanted him to get me as close as possible and paid him more than he asked. I watched for the police the entire ride and at the drop off. I began to walk to the border. On the way I needed to pass a pack of 4 or 5 police at food vendor. They turned to size me up. I was hoping they were in the midst of a food break or waiting for their order and would let me pass. I glanced but avoided eye contact. I didn't look back. The crossing was empty, no line, no body but me.
Adelitas and Chicago were dead, I almost ventured to tropical which is in sight from Adelitas, but kept to my comfort level. I am sure the weekend is better. And I stayed clear of any pharmacy action on this visit. BTW, they didn't scan or use the medal detector at the border any more.