General Reports

[HorseTrader]

Azul or Sonora Grill will stir fry veggies for you. Ask for a minimum amount of butter. Fresh Juice can be purchased across the street from HK alley side at the yellow juice store. Otherwise JUMEX brand juices are just as good if you look for " JUGO " not " Nectar ".

Thanks, great suggestions.

[Artisttyp]

Azul or Sonora Grill will stir fry veggies for you. Ask for a minimum amount of butter. Fresh Juice can be purchased across the street from HK alley side at the yellow juice store. Otherwise JUMEX brand juices are just as good if you look for " JUGO " not " Nectar ".

[HorseTrader]

Historically, the girls at Tropical haven't been my type, but someone posted a comment that they now look pretty good. I can now confirm that observation. In fact, there were a couple that were top shelf stuff. That will be my first stop during my next visit to Tijuana.

About 3 years ago I met a young spinner at Hong Kong, she made near zero money because she kept to herself and was a wall flower. Then 2 years ago I met her friend who was also a cute spinner wall flower. Seldom did I see anyone take either of these girls upstairs, they were both excellent performers in the room. Funny thing happened today, they were both in constant demand for drinks and arriba. It must have taken them 2 or 3 years to learn how to play the game, but they both sure have it figured out now.

Today I bought another HK VIP card. While waiting for things to process I noticed the elevator in the north lobby. Never noticed it before today. Sure enough, it was being used frequently. The doors never opened but I could see the floor number display change every now and then.

Today was my first use of PedWest. Just for the heck of it, I timed my walk from Hong Kong to my car parked behind the Jack in the Box: 24 minutes to the Sentri agent (no waiting for me) and a total of 41 minutes to my car. Probably slightly more than 2 miles total walking. Taking a taxi may cut that down to about 1. 5 miles walking or a little less. IMHO, the beautifully constructed Mexican walkway is too narrow. General public to the left and Ready line to the right, Sentri was not labeled but this was one of those situations where you just walk through the middle until you get past the gate where there is a clear walking path for Sentri to the agent. Fortunately, the general public and ready line people stayed enough to the sides to allow a slightly obstructed path down the middle. Having Sentri probably saved me about 2 hours waiting.

I exchanged my dollars for pesos at the exchange place that is a few feet to the west of the south end of the trolley. At the moment I made my exchange the posted exchange rate was 18.159, but the actual exchange rate for me was 18.500. My printed receipt and the money in my pocket confirmed that rate. The posted rate did not change while I was making the exchange. I've noticed this before but had never paid close attention to verify the posted rate didn't change while I was standing there. I guess I got a better exchange rate because I exchanged a relatively large amount ($420). Per OANDA.com, the interbank exchange rate is currently 20.822, so, there is a good bit of margin somewhere. I think next time I'll use my ATM card at a Tijuana bank and pay my bank's $3 foreign ATM fee (or whatever it is). I don't know how these little local places can afford to buy pesos at the 19.1 that was posted today.

One of my problems in Zona Norte is finding places that serve a decent portion of veggies and fruits with meals. My body craves fruits and vegetables on these ZN excursions. I used to buy fresh squeezed juice on the east side of Constitution just north of the alley, but that place is gone. Today I had a good portion of fruit from the street cart on the alley, probably covered with bacteria from poor sanitary practices. Who has suggestions for this problem without me going far from ZN? I have seen HK girls having lunch in high and remote parts of the club, sometimes eating large portions of steamed veggies; I don't know where they came from.

Oh, I almost forgot. I had some good street tacos and got laid twice (one street girl and one HK girl). I have always enjoyed ZN.

[ScatManDoo]

I spent Friday night in a cheap (360 MN), noisy, second-floor room at the Leyva, above the Chicago club. It was clean, the fan was nice, and the TV didn't work (but that may have been because I didn't bother paying the deposit for the remote). The bed was a bit stiff, but it didn't sag, and it was big enough for one guy and as many ladies as you can stack in. In other words, if you're looking for "boring but noisy", you'll be in pig heaven at the Leyva.

Before I settled on the Leyva, I tried to find the Mini, which has been reported here as located mid-alley. Either it's well-hidden, unlabeled, or gone. Does anyone know?

Some of my very best days spent in La Zona could be well described as "Pig heaven at the Leyva".

Both Hotel Mini and hotel El Porton are very close to each other on the alley's north sidewalk, with a bar called something like 'El Cariprussa' located in-between them. Both these hotels are maybe more toward the east end of the alley (instead of the alley's center, where La Valentina sits). El Porton has no signage at their entrance, but their address appears right over the entrance inearing overhead as decorative Spanish tiles. It's address is something like 8088 or 8084 appearing overhead as you walk in a very long interior hallway to a desk next to the rear stairway.

The entrance to the Hotel Mini is next to the entrance of the bar sitting between the two hotels. It also had no signage and you walk back through a somewhat covered breezeway to their office window, which is half a stairway lower than street level. Both of these hotels have lower room rates than the Leyva, but ultimately cost more to stay at because of joiner fees. Hotel Leyve does not charge joiner fees if you bring in multiple chicas.

[SaltShaker]

Above the Chicago Club?

I spent Friday night in a cheap (360 MN), noisy, second-floor room at the Leyva, above the Chicago club. It was clean, the fan was nice, and the TV didn't work (but that may have been because I didn't bother paying the deposit for the remote). The bed was a bit stiff, but it didn't sag, and it was big enough for one guy and as many ladies as you can stack in. In other words, if you're looking for "boring but noisy", you'll be in pig heaven at the Leyva.

Before I settled on the Leyva, I tried to find the Mini, which has been reported here as located mid-alley. Either it's well-hidden, unlabeled, or gone. Does anyone know?

[SaltShaker]

Reference the photo maps below. Northwest on Coahula next door to La Perla Restaurant Bar. " El Prieto Parking", 24/7 parking lot attendants. The price fluctuates depending on the time. I have never paid more than $5.00. Never had any damage to my vehicle. I have seen high end California plated cars in lot on many occasions. Never have parked at El Prieto Parking after 7:00 pm. The night game I am sure is different. I have parked on the streets around the Bars just to check if I could save a penny. Mistake!

My work requires that I bring my car when I go into Mexico.

Does anyone have any experience with the parking lots in the zona?

[Captain Solo]

Is pretty nice, clean quiet. The rooms on Constitucion are larger, some with 2 beds. Costing only $20 a night, it's good for crashing instead of driving back late at night when you are tired and sleepy. But don't know too many street girls who would walk there for sex.

Leyva is usually quiet all night. Don't know where the noise come from. Sometimes the back girls get off work and they can make some noise. Parking costs extra $2. Check it out. The other option is to buy HK's VIP car and park at Pepe for free, worth about $15 a night.

Hotel Mini is at the end of a long corridor next to bar Valentina. If you get a room next to Callejon Coahuila, you can enjoy the free brass band concert all night hehe. The rooms all have wall mirrors. Some girls get turned on big time watching themselves fucked in the mirror.

I spent Friday night in a cheap (360 MN), noisy, second-floor room at the Leyva, above the Chicago club. It was clean, the fan was nice, and the TV didn't work (but that may have been because I didn't bother paying the deposit for the remote). The bed was a bit stiff, but it didn't sag, and it was big enough for one guy and as many ladies as you can stack in. In other words, if you're looking for "boring but noisy", you'll be in pig heaven at the Leyva.

Before I settled on the Leyva, I tried to find the Mini, which has been reported here as located mid-alley. Either it's well-hidden, unlabeled, or gone. Does anyone know?

[WombatEd2]

My work requires that I bring my car when I go into Mexico.

Does anyone have any experience with the parking lots in the zona?

[WombatEd2]

I spent Friday night in a cheap (360 MN), noisy, second-floor room at the Leyva, above the Chicago club. It was clean, the fan was nice, and the TV didn't work (but that may have been because I didn't bother paying the deposit for the remote). The bed was a bit stiff, but it didn't sag, and it was big enough for one guy and as many ladies as you can stack in. In other words, if you're looking for "boring but noisy", you'll be in pig heaven at the Leyva.

Before I settled on the Leyva, I tried to find the Mini, which has been reported here as located mid-alley. Either it's well-hidden, unlabeled, or gone. Does anyone know?

[Cool]

No, you can't walk there from the zona norte, the restaurant is in zona rio. The food is outstanding!

http://www.restaurantlosarcos.com/en

I went to a restaurant called Arcos in Juarez a few years back. I think they are related. Not sure if this is the one in Tijuana.

[TomJackin]

Two comments like that make me want to try it. Where is it located? Is it a safe daylight walk from zone norte?

No, you can't walk there from the zona norte, the restaurant is in zona rio. The food is outstanding!

http://www.restaurantlosarcos.com/en

[HorseTrader]

Funny you should mention LOS Arcos. I was there last week on a Wed. Mid afternoon and the place was packed. I remember thinking it presents a whole different picture of the Tijuana economy, that most people don't see. I also thought might as well not even try to come here on a weekend night, probably a hell of a long wait. And as far as I could tell 0. 1 gringo there.

And oh yea the food was great.

Two comments like that make me want to try it. Where is it located? Is it a safe daylight walk from zone norte?

[Bbond]

Hundreds "OR" thousands wear your reading glasses ScatMan.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/n...mexico-border/

In the last five years, the United States has deported record numbers of immigrants, including roughly 250,000 to 300,000 each year to Mexico. Mexico has 15 repatriation points, but one-third of all deportees are usually sent to Baja California, and half come through Tijuana—from 100 to 300 every day, officials here say.

[Bbond]

This was a few months back, I was in the mood for some onion rings so I walked to carl's jr on constition. Don't know what these amish guys were up to but I had to take a quick snap shot. But this is what tourists look like in the zona.

Those are not Amish, they are Mennonites. Mexico has several Mennonite communities. Their primary language is German, but they are Mexican citizens.

[Captain Solo]

Before the 2008 passport requirement.

The Liberty walking path between the border, past the McDonalds, Liberty Plaza with many Pharmacies and bars / restaurants playing noisy music, over the foot bridge, to the Mercado de Artesannia, more tacos restaurants (3 for a $1 with $1 beers), Wax Musuem, El Arco, Ave. Revolucion, the Music Plaza ect. Were lively with hundreds tourists and dozens of carts and shops selling trinkets and souvenirs. Now that path is empty, shops and restaurants closed down, the jewelry carts disappeared.

On Ave. Revolucion full of souvenir shops, there are very few gringos in the day time. Most walkers are local Mexicans and their families. Groups of rowdy students and young gringos drinking and talking in bars at night are gone, replaced by local young Mexicans. A few strip clubs were busted a few years back, not sure if they are still open.

Coahuila in La Zona Norte, with its bars and sex hotels, is the only area frequented by Gringos, usually at night. Looks to me tourism in Tijuana is dead, except sex tourism.