General Reports

[AfternoonSnack]

Unless you're drawing attention to yourself, I'd say Coahuila is fine up to the cambio and Constitucion is fine up to Chicago Club. After that, you're tempting fate late at night.

[Captain Solo]

The nearest cambio is on Coahuila 50 ft East of Constitucion.

It's a well-lighted area with people carousing after 2 AM on weekend. You should be OK walking in that area. Just be aware of guys following you. If they head straight for you and get closed within 10 ft, turn around, look straight into their faces, put your hand in your pocket like you were about to pull out a knife. That would deter crime. But I exchange money there all the time. Nothing threatening or even alarming ever happened.

[WombatEd2]

I will want to pay the girl in Pesos. Once I'm in the Zona where is a safe place to exchange dollars for pesos?

The money changer on the south side of Coahuila just east of Constitution has decent rates.

But I would think twice about walking over there after dark. Unless, of course, you have a couple of wing men with you.

[Jackie888]

I will want to pay the girl in Pesos. Once I'm in the Zona where is a safe place to exchange dollars for pesos?

Where everyone else is doing it. Any time you see a business not being frequented by locals, there is usually a big reason for it. I just use the one on Tranny corner.

[Routine]

Tijuana is a border town so they'll readily accept USD so there isn't the absolute need to have pesos. If anything, USD preferred as it's more stable compared to the Mexican peso. You know how last year inflation was 8%? From talking locals, that's the norm when earning / living in MXN pesos.

I will want to pay the girl in Pesos. Once I'm in the Zona where is a safe place to exchange dollars for pesos?

[Sol12]

Does anyone have any intel on when the Ped West border crossing will open again for all foot travel, the latest I heard was it was just open for Ukrainians.

Well in today's paper they happened to talk about some in Tijuana putting pressure on the US to use it for those seeking asylum like they did with the Ukrainians. The Ukrainians are no longer allowed to come to the US via Tijuana. They have to fill out forms in Europe first to get permission to enter. Or those in Mexico have to go to the Embassy in CDMX. So now the Pedwest is again no longer being used. I don't imagine it being open to regular foot traffic anytime soon especially with the unclear future of Title 42. DHS would like to send people directly to the border to grant asylum to people instead of them waiting in the US. So if this happens I'd imagine them to use the Pedwest for these or they may switch the foot traffic to only Pedwest and use the building at the East to expedite those seeking asylum.

[Phordphan]

They did take my payment last July, I checked my status online. It said status was under review. Also what did your wingman have to do to get his money back from is Sentri application? Did he just change the application? Was it just as simple as filling out a brand new Global Entry application? Can I have both?

There is confusion about these two programs. At one time, years ago (when I got mine) they were two separate programs and you had to apply separately, pay separate fees and have separate interviews.

Now, for US citizens, you just need to apply for Global Entry. For US citizens Uncle Sugar has combined the two, so to speak. Your GE card gets you across the Mexican border in the SENTRI lines, and you can use the GE kiosks in airports. Plus you get TSA Pre-check.

SENTRI is still, technically, a separate program. But it seems targeted more toward Mexican nationals who cross frequently, like for a job, or whatever. Having SENTRI alone does not allow you to use the Global Entry kiosks, etc. , and it's only good for Mexico.

So, anybody considering this should just apply for Global Entry if you are a US citizen.

[Captain Solo]

He said he changed from SENTRI to GE.

There should be a procedure to do it. Look it up.

[Scbb1]

SCBB,

Did they take your payment last summer? That was the peak of coVid. Federal employees were working at home. They likely lost your application.

Not sure about SENTRI, but I applied for Global entry, got conditional approval in 3 weeks, had an interview lined up in San Ysidro in 2 weeks and got the card. A wingman applied for SENTRI, changes to GLOBAL ENTRY, got approval and an interview at LAX all within 1 week, with the card mailed to him the next week.

Print out your proof of payment and write to them with a new application. But I can tell you the federal government agencies are so far behind with their normal business that lots of things got messed up.

Sentry.

They did take my payment last July, I checked my status online. It said status was under review. Also what did your wingman have to do to get his money back from is Sentri application? Did he just change the application? Was it just as simple as filling out a brand new Global Entry application? Can I have both?

[Scbb1]

Does anyone have any intel on when the Ped West border crossing will open again for all foot travel, the latest I heard was it was just open for Ukrainians.

[Scbb1]

Little off topic but I read today that Eli Lilly has a breakthrough cure for obesity. People are losing over 20% of their body weight. 50 pounds of weight loss. This is a real game changer for us older mongers that gained a lot of weight. Here is the article. They are saying this is the biggest breakthrough all time. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...t-20-of-weight.

Losing 50 pound would renew my mongering career.

How long do you have to stay on the therapy? What happens when it stops? Who qualifies for these injections? Is this covered by insurance? Diet and exercise with intermittent fasting is a long time solution that cost very little. Join a boxing gym.

[TjBrazil]

Little off topic but I read today that Eli Lilly has a breakthrough cure for obesity. People are losing over 20% of their body weight. 50 pounds of weight loss. This is a real game changer for us older mongers that gained a lot of weight. Here is the article. They are saying this is the biggest breakthrough all time. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...t-20-of-weight.

Losing 50 pound would renew my mongering career.

[MmaufcFan]

I've never tried it at that location, but as with everything in Mexico, I'm sure the price is negociable. (Count the empty seats, and multiply by 75 cents, and that will tell you how much, at the most, the driver would get by waiting.)

But you're absolutely right, if you're only going from the border to the Hong Kong Club, the taxi is a more likely option.

Yea when I used to visit every few months it didn't matter cab it is. Now I'm moving to SD and ill be a weekly monger I need to shave the extra expenses.

Thanks.

[WombatEd2]

Well how much cause if your going to say $5 then that will get you to the doors of Hong Kong by taxi.

I've never tried it at that location, but as with everything in Mexico, I'm sure the price is negociable. (Count the empty seats, and multiply by 75 cents, and that will tell you how much, at the most, the driver would get by waiting.)

But you're absolutely right, if you're only going from the border to the Hong Kong Club, the taxi is a more likely option.

[MmaufcFan]

In similar situations, I've been able to bribe the driver into leaving early.

Well how much cause if your going to say $5 then that will get you to the doors of Hong Kong by taxi.